little shop where we used to buy Iur cookies. How sl:on
will it be ? Well ?"
"In which house ?" asked the driver.
"In the large house at the corner. Can't you see it ?
That is our house," said Rost6v, "that is our house
Denisov! Denisov We shall be there in a minute."
Denisov raised his head, cleared his throat, andi made
no reply.
"Dmitri," Rost6v addressed the lackey on th'- box,
"there is a light in our house."
"Yes, there is. There is a light in your father's cabi-
net."
Have they not yet retired ? Eh ? What do you think ?
Don't forget to take out my Hungarian coat!" Rost6v
added, fingering his moustache. "Go on !" he cried to the
driver. Do wake up, Visya," he turned to Denisov, who
had again lowered his head. "Move on, go faster You
will get three roubles for v6dka, go on 1" Rost6v cried when
they were only within three houses of his own. He
thought that the horses were not moving. At last the
horses bore to the left and drove up to the entrance.
Rost6v saw, above his head, the familiar cornice with the
stucco knocked off from it, the porch, and the hitching-
post. He leaped out of the sleigh while it was yet in
motion, and ran up to the vestibule. The house stood
motionless and cheerless, As though it did not care who
had arrived. There was no one in the vestibule.
0 God, I wonder whether everything is all right,"
thought Rost6v, stopping for a moment with a sinking
heart, and rushing along the vestibule and the familiar
warped staircase. The same old door-handle, the spots on
which had been the cause of so much anger in the count-
ess, submitted to the same weak pressure. A tallow
candle was burning "in the antechamber.
Old Mikh6yla was sleeping on the clothes-bench. Pro-
k6fi, the footman, the same that was so powerful that he

WAR AND PEACE

could lift up a carriage by its back, was sitting and weav-
ing bast shr.es. He looked up at the opened door, and his
sleepy, indifferent expression was suddenly transformed to
one ot ecstasy and fright.
0 Lord The young count !" he exclaimed, upon rec-
oguiziug his young master. How is this ? My dear
masterr" And shakiug from excitement, Prokdfi rushed
up to the door leading to the drawing-room, apparently for
the purpose of announcing his arrival, hut he changed his
miud, came back, and fell on the shoulders of his young
ma.ster.
Are all well ?" asked Rostdv, tearing his arm away
from him.
** Thank God, they are! Thank God, everything is well!
They have just had their supper Let me look at you,
Serenity."
Is everything well ?"
"Thank God, everything is !"
Rostdv had entirely forgotten about Denisov, and, not
wishing to allow any one to anticipate him, he threw down
his fur coat and on tiptoe ran up to the dark large parlour.
Everything was as of old : the same card-tables, the same
chandelier in a netting; but somebody had observed the
young master, and before he reached the drawing-room
something flew impetuously at him from the side door
and embraced him and began to kiss him. Another, a
third being, leaped out from a second, a third door; more
embraces, more kisses, more shouts and tears of joy. He
could not make out where or who his father was, who was
Natisha and who Petya. All were crying, talking, and
kissing him at one and the same time. But his mother
was not among them, so much he remembered.
"I did not know Nikolay my dear!"
"Here he is ours My dear Nikoldy He has
changed! Where are the candles? Let us have tea!"
"Kiss me, too!"

6 WAR AND PEACE

Darling, and me !"
S6nya, Natasha, Pitya, Anna MikhAylovna, Vyr'ra, Lhe
old count, embraced him; and the servants and the maids
filled the room, talking and sighing.
P6tya clung to his legs.
"And me!" he cried.
Natisha pulled him down toward her and deposited a
number of kisses on his face; then she leaped aside, hold-
ing on to the skirt of his Hungarian coat, leaped about
like a goat in one spot, and screamed in a pieicing voice.
On all sides there were loving eyes, glistening with the
tears of joy; on all sides there were lips, seeking to be
kissed.
S6nya, who was as red as lobster, was also holding his
arm and was all aglow with bliss, while gazing into: his
eyes, which she had been waiting for so long. S h;ya had
passed her sixteenth year ; she was very pretty, particu-
larly at that moment of happy, ecstatic animation. She
looked at him without taking her eyes off, smiling and
holding her breath. He looked gratefully at her, but
was all the time waiting and looking for some one. The
old countess had not yet made her appe:tran:ce. Sud-
denly steps were heard at the door: they were so last
that they could not be those of his mother.
And yet it was she, wearing a new, unfamihar dress,
which had been made in his absence. All left him, and
he ran up toward her. When they came together, bhe
fell sobbing upon his breast. She could not raise her face
and only pressed it to the cold cords of his Hungarian
coat. Denisov had entered the room unnoticed by any
one: he was standing there, looking at them, wiping his
eyes.
"Vasili Denisov, the friend of your son," he said, intro-
ducing himself to the count, who was looking interroga-
tively at him.
"You are welcome. I know, I know," said the count,

WAR AND PEACE

embracing and kissing Denisov. Nikoldy wrote us-
Natisha, Vyera, here is Denisov !"
The same happy, ecstatic faces now turned to Denisov's
shaggy figure, and surrounded him.
Darling Denis:.v!" shrieked Natisha, beside herself
with excitement. She leaped up to him, embraced him,
and kis ed hin. All were embarrassed by Natisha's act.
Denuis himself blushed, smiling. He took Natisha's
hand and kissed it.
Denisov was take to the room set aside for him, and
the family gathered in the sota-room about Nikol6y.
The old co:.unt.es sat by his side, and, without letting
his hand out of hers, kept kissing it all the time. The
oth-trs crowded around them, caught every motion, word,
and look of his, and did not take their ecstatic eyes off
him. His brother and his sisters quarrelled about the
n'rarest place to him, taking it away from each other, and
had altercations about who was to bring him the tea, a
handkerchief, or tobacco.
Rost6v was very happy in the love which was mani-
fested to him; but the first moment of his meeting had
been so blissful that the present happiness did not seem
sufficient to him, and he was waiting for something more
.and more.
On the following morning the newcomers slept until
nearly ten o'clock.
In the adjoining room there lay in disorder sables,
pouches, sabretasches, open portmanteaus, and dirty boots.
'Two clean pairs of boots, with their spurs on, had just been
placed against the wall. Servants brought washstands, hot
water for shaving, and clean clothes. There was an odour
-of tobacco and of effluvia betraying the presence of men.
"Oh, there, Grishka Vasili Denisov called out in a
hoarse voice. Rost6v, get up !"
Rost6v rubbed his sleepy eyes and raised his dishev-
elled head from his warm pillow.

WAR AND PEACE

What is it? Is it late?"
"Yes, it is. It is nearly ten o'clock," replied Nati:ha.
and in the adjoining room could be heard the rustle of
starched dresses, whispering, and the laughter of girls,
and past the slightly open door there flitted something
blue, some ribbons, black hair, and merry faces. Those
were Natdsha, S6nya, and Petya, who came to find out
whether he was not yet up.
"Nikolay, get up!" Natisha's voice was again heard
at the door.
Directly !"
Just then Prtya, in the front room, picked up the
sabres, which he saw there, and, experiencing that trans-
port which boys experience at the sight of their martial
elder brothers, opened the door, forgetting that it was im-
proper for girls to see men in undress.
"Is this your sabre ? "he cried.
The girls leaped aside. Denisov with frightened eyes
hid his hirsute feet under the coverlet, glancing at his
comrade for aid. P4tya passed through the door, and it
slammed to. Behind the door could be heard laughter.
Nikolay, come out in your morning-gown !" was heard
Natasha's voice.
Is this your sabre ?" asked Petya, or is it yours ?"
he turned to the mustachioed, swarthy Denisov, with an
expression of servile respect.
Rost6v hastily put on his morning-gown and his shoes,
and went out to the girls. As he entered the room, Sdnya
was in the act of circling around and puffing up her dress
ready to sit on the floor. Both girls looked fresh, ruddy,
and happy, and wore the same kind of new blue dresses.
S6nya ran away, and Natasha linked her arm with that of
her brother and led him into the sofa-room, where they at
once started a conversation. They asked each other ques-
tions about a thousand trifles that could interest none but
themselves, but they hardly received any proper answers

WAR AND PEACE

to them. Nalt.shn laughed at every word which either
of them isid, not because- that which they said was ridic-
ulo:us, but because The was happy and was unable to
restrain her joy, which f.:uund its expression in laughter.
S'Ohi. how nice! How excellent!" she said to every-
thing.
l:isct,',v felt that under the influence of the warm rays
of l:'\e the childish -Imile, which he had not smiled even
on:e since he had left hbrne, now for the first time after a
period .f a year aud a half budded in his soul and upon
his fai:e.
Really," she said, you are now a full-fledged man!
I am so glad you are my brother." She touched his
moustache. "I want to know what you men are like.
Are you just like us ? Are you ?"
"Why did S6nya run away ?" asked Rost6v.
"Yes, that is a whole story! How are you going to
address S6nya, as thou' or as you'?"
"As it may happen," said Rost6v.
"Say thou' to her, please! I will tell you later why.
No, I will tell you now. You know that S6nya is my
friend, she is such a friend that I would gladly put my
arm in the fire for her. Look !"
She rolled up her muslin sleeve and showed him a red
mark on her long, lean, and tender arm, far above the
elbow, but below the shoulder, in the spot which is
generally concealed by a ball-dress.
"I burnt this to prove to her my love for her. I sim-
ply heated a ruler on the fire and pressed it against the
skin."
As Rost6v was sitting in his former class-room, on a
sofa with cushions on the rests, and looking into Natisha's
maddeningly vivacious eyes, he again entered into that
domestic world of his childhood, which had no meaning
for any one but himself, but which afforded him one of
the best enjoyments of life ; the burning of the arm by

WAR AND PEACE

means of the ruler in order to give proof of love did not
seem useless to him: he understood it and waa not in
the least surprised.
Well ? Is that all ?" he asked.
"We are such friends, oh, such friends! WYhy. the
ruler is nothing; but we are such friends. 1When she
loves one, she loves him for all time; but I cannot unde'r-
stand that, I shall forget at once."
"Well, what of it?"
"Yes, she loves me and you so much!" Natisha sud-
denly blushed. "Do you remember, before your depar-
ture- She said: I will love him for ever, but he shall
be free.' Now isn't that fine and noble ? Yes, ye it is
very noble Is it not ?" asked Nat6sha with such s.riuiis-
ness and agitation that it became evident that that which
she was saying now she had been saying before with tears.
Rostdv fell to musing.
I do not take back any word I have given." he said.
"Besides, S6nya is such a joy that a man would be a fool
to refuse his happiness."
No, no," cried Natasha. We have been talking about
this. We knew that you would be saying this. But
that must not be, because, you see, if, as you say, you
consider yourself bound by any word which you may
have given, it turns out as though she had said it on
purpose. It turns out that you are going to be forced to
marry her by force, and it is not just right."
Rost6v saw that they had thought it out well. S6nya
had struck him by her beauty the day before. On that
day, when he had only caught a glimpse of her, she
seemed even more beautiful to him. She was a charming
girl of sixteen years, who apparently was passionately in
love with him, and this he did not doubt for a moment.
Why should he not love her now, and even marry her,
thought Rost6v. But now there were so many other joys
and occupations too.

WAR .ND PEACE

Yes, they have thought it out well," he thought, "I
must remain fr'-e."
." Very well," he said, we shall discuss it later. Oh,
how glad I am to see you! he added.
*' Well, have you not been false to Boris?" asked her
brother.
What fooli--hneso!" Natdsha cried, smiling. "I am
thinking neither of him, nor of any one else, and I do not
want to know anything about it."
0* Oh What is the matter with you ?"
S' What is the matter ?" Natisha repeated the question,
and a happy smile lighted up her face. Have you seen
Duport ?"
,, Nc'."
*' You have not seen Duport, the famous dancer ? Well,
then you won't understand me. This is the matter with
ne I and Natisha arched her arms, lifted her skirt as
they do in dancing, whirled around, skipped up, struck
her feet together, and took several steps while standing
on the tips of her toes.
I am standing, am I not?" she said; but she could
not keep long on tiptoe. This is the matter with me!
I will never marry, but will become a dancer. Please,
don't tell anybody about it!"
Rostdv burst out into such a loud and merry laugh
that Denisov in his room became envious, and Natisha
was unable to keep from laughing with him.
"Is it not nice ?" she kept saying.
"Yes. And so you won't marry Boris ?"
Natisba flared up.
I do not want to marry anybody. I will tell him so
when I see him."
"Indeed!" said Rost6v.
"Well, that is all foolishness," Natisha kept prattling.
"How about Denisov ? Is he nice ?" she asked.
"Yes."

WAR AND PEACE

Good-bye! Go and get dressed I Ienfisov terrible "
"Why should he be?" asked Nik6lidy. NNo, \ViNya
is a fine fellow."
"You call him VAsya,- that is strange. IReally, ik he
very good ?"
Yes, very."
"Well, come soon to tea. We shall all be to.:'gether"
And Natasha got up on tiptoe and walked out of the
room as dancers do, but smiling as only happy fifteen-
year-old girls smile.
Upon meeting Sdnya in the corridor, Rost6v blushed.
He did not know how to treat her. On the previous day
they had kissed in the first minute of the joy of meeting,
but now they felt that it should not be done; he felt
that all, his mother and his sisters, were looking interrog-
atively at him, and waiting to see how he would act in
respect to her. He kissed her hand and addressed her
as you." But their eyes, meeting each other, said thou "
and kissed tenderly. With her glance she begged his
forgiveness for having dared, through NatAsha's embassy,
to remind him of his promise, and thanked him for his
love. He, with his glance, thanked her for the freedom
which she offered him, and told her that, come what might,
he would never stop loving her, because it was a matter
of impossibility not to love her.
How strange it is," Vydra said, choosing a minute of
a general silence, to see S6nya and Nikolay meet each
other as strangers, and to hear them say 'you' to each
other."
Vyyra's remark was quite true, just like all her remarks,
but all felt awkward, as after most of her remarks, and
not only S6nya, Nikoldy, and Natisha blushed, but also
the old countess, who was afraid of that love of her son
for S6nya, which might deprive him of the chance of a
good match, blushed like a little girl.
Denisov, to Rost6v's astonishment, made his appearance

WAR AND PEACE 13

in the drawing-room in a new uniform, pomaded and per-
fumed, looking the dandy he always was in battles; he
was as amiable with the ladies as with the gentlemen,
which Rost6v had never expected him to be.

ON his return from the army, NikolAy R,.st6v was
received in Moscow by his home folk as the be.t t.f :us,
a hero, and the dearest of men; by his relativt~s as au
agreeable, charming, and respectful young man; by his
acquaintances as a handsome lieutenant of huccars, an
elegant dancer, and one of the best matches in Mosc::,w.
The Rostdvs had extensive acquaintances in Moso:w ;
during that year the old count had a great deal oi LUnney.
for all his estates had just been newly mortgage'd and -:
Nikolay provided himself with a trotter of his : wu and
with riding pantaloons of the latest fashion, such as
nobody else in Moscow had, and with the most fashionable
of boots, with the sharpest of points and small silver
spurs, and altogether lived a jolly life. After some time
at home, during which he adjusted himself to the old
conditions of life, he experienced a pleasant sensation.
He thought he now had grown to be quite a man. His
despair on account of having failed at an examination in
religion, his borrowing money of Gavrilo for a cab, his
secret kissing of S6nya, all these he recalled as something
childish, from which he was now immeasurably removed.
Now he was a lieutenant of hussars in a silver dolman,
with the cross of St. George, who was training his trotter
for the races, together with well-known, adult, respectable
racing men. There was a lady, an acquaintance of his,
on the boulevard, on whom he called every evening. He
directed the mazurka at a ball at the Arkharovs, talked
about the war with Field-Marshal Kamenski, frequented
14

WAR AND PEACE

the English club, and was o, -' thou terms with a colonel
of forty years of age, to whom Denisov had introduced
hitm.
His passion for the emperor subsided a little in MAlI-
cow, wllre he did not habe any opportunity of seeing
hii ; but he frequently told about the ueml:eror and about
his love for hiw, giving people to understand that he was
not telling everything, and that thtre wa-s something
which could not be understood by :dl; with all hi- heart
he shared with everybody in Moscow the veneration for
Emperor Alexander Pivlovich, who was there called an
- angel in the tdesh."
IDulnn- his short stay in Mloscow, previous to hi- de-
parture for the army, he did not get closer to S6nya, but,
on the contrary, became more alienated from her. She
was very pretty and sweet, and, to all appearances, was
passionately in love with him; but he was in that period
of youth when a young man has so much to do that there
is no time left for such things, when he is afraid of bonds,
when he esteems his freedom which he needs for many
other things. Whenever he, during this latest stay in
Moscow, thought of S6nya, he said to himself:
"Oh, there are somewhere many such, whom I do not
know. I shall have plenty of time to busy myself with
love, whenever I am so inclined, but now I am too busy
with other things." Besides, there was something humili-
ating to his manhood in female society. He attended balls
and frequented feminine society, pretending that he was
doing so against his will. The races, the English club,
carousals with Denisov, and visits down there, that was
another matter: that was becoming in a dashing hussar.
In the beginning of March the old Count IlyA Andrde-
vich Rost6v was very busy looking after a dinner which
was to be given at the English club in honour of Prince
Bagrati6n.
The count, dressed in his morning-gown, kept walking

WAR AND PEACE

up and down in the parlour and giving his orders to the
club steward and to famous Feoktist, the chef of the
English club, about the asparagus, the fresh cucumbers,
the strawberries, the veal, and the fish for the dinner for
Prince Bagrati6n. The count had been a member and
the chairman of the club ever since its foundation. He
was commissioned by the club to attend to the celebra-
tion in Bagrati6n's honour, because no on:. knew l:.etter
how to arrange such a feast on a large scale nud in the
most liberal manner possible, but more espIei:iJlly I:.ec.iISe
not many were so willing to apply their it\\ u m..n'ey if
that was needed for the full success of the .banquet The
chef and the steward listened with happy faces to the
orders of the count, because they knew no one would give
them a better chance to earn something for themselves at
a dinner which cost several thousands of roubles.
So be sure and put some sainfoin into the turtle soup,
some sainfoin, I say!"
Are there to be three cold dishes ?" asked the chef.
The count reflected a moment.
Nothing less than three will do. Mayonnaise, that is
one," he said, bending down a finger.
"So you order me to get large sterlets ?" asked the
steward.
"What is to be done ? Take them, if you can't get
them any cheaper. Yes, my dear, I almost forgot: you
must have another entree on the table. O Lord !"
He clasped his head.
Who will fetch me the flowers ? Mitenka! O Mi-
tenka! Go at a gallop to my suburban estate and tell
Maksimka the gardener immediately to call for a corvee.
Tell him to send here everything in'the hothouses Let
him wrap all the flowers in felt blankets. I must have
two hundred pots here by next Friday."
After having given a number of other orders, he started
to go to the apartments of the little countess in order

WAR AND PEACE

to rest himself ; l.ut he r:.ecall:-l something i mpl:rtant,
and s': returned,'all:dl bha.:k three :he:f .an tlh stte:war.],and
began t.:. give new orders. IL the door w.ere l herd the
light steps of a man anil the ,'latter :of pursi, and there
entere-di the ha ,oliln:i ruilly yo':un i count with ier,-eptilhle
bla,:k i:iiustni:b.es. H': l::k:-ll r-,tei and w,.ll taken 'a ?r
of in lhis trn-iiuil M ,:,s,:i:.w Lhie.
Ah, my ,dear M head i iu a whirl." ?aidi tihe ld
Iman, rmnilg, as th:ouoglh anh.a d aIf.a.i e his .nu You
might help me I need some singers. I have music,
but don't you think I ought to send for the gipsies ?
You military fellows are fond of them."
"Really, papa, I think Prince Bagrati6n, getting ready
for the battle of Schdngraben, was less disturbed than you
aim now." said his son, smiling.
The old count pretended to be angry.
"It is easy enough for you to talk! Try it yourself!"
The count once more turned to the chef, who was at-
tentively watching father and son with an intelligent and
respectful countenance.
"See how the young people are, Feoktist!" he said.
"They are making fun of us old men."
Your Serenity, all they care for is to have a good
dinner. It is none of their affair how things are brought
together and served."
"Yes, yes," cried the count, and, merrily seizing his
son's hands, he called out: "I have caught you now!
Take at once a two-horse sleigh, drive to Bezukhi, and
tell him that I ask him to send me fresh strawberries and
pineapples. You won't get them elsewhere. He is not
at home, so go in and tell the princesses about it From
there drive to the Razgulydy, coachman IpAtka knows
the way, find Ilydshka the gipsy, the one that danced
at the house of Count Orl6v, you remember the one in
the white Cossack coat, -and fetch him here, to my
house !"

IS W.A: AND PEACE

'Shall I rinr hil ti with the gir'p-y women ?" Nik:l;iy
a-k;d, smilnr. All ;li g t, all right !"
Just then Anna Mikhaylovna entered the room with
inaudible steps, her face expressing preoccupation and
care and, at the same time, Christian humility, which
never left her. Although she saw the count every day in
his morning-gown, he was embarrassed every time and
begged her to excuse his appearance.
Never mind, my dear count," she said, softly losingg
her eyes. "I will go myself to Bezikhi," shie -aid.
"Pierre has arrived, and now, my count, we shall get
everything from his hothouses. I have to see hbn, any-
way: he has sent me a letter from Boris. Thank God,
Boris is now on the staff."
The count was glad to have Anna Mikhiylovna take
one part of his orders upon herself, and sent word to have
his small carriage hitched up for her.
Tell Beziikhi to come. I will introduce him. Is he
here with his wife?" he asked.
Anna Mikhaylovna rolled her eyes. Profound grief
was expressed upon her countenance.
Ah, my friend, he is very unhappy," she said. "If
what we have heard is true, it is terrible. We did not
think it would come to this when we rejoiced at his
happiness! This young Bezdkhi is such a noble, such a
divine, soul! Yes, I pity him with all my heart, and will
try to console him as much as I can."
What has happened ?" both Rost6vs, father and son,
asked.
Anna Mikhaylovna heaved a deep sigh.
"I Dlokhov, the son of Mirya Ivinovna," she said, in a
mysterious whisper, "has compromised her, they say.
Pierre brought him out and invited him to come to his
house in St. Petersburg, and now She came here, and
this madcap after her," said Anna Mikhdylovna, wishing
to express her sympathy for Pierre, but in reality express-

WAR AND PEACE 19

ing, with her involuntary intonationsa and semi-smile, her
syrnpithy fur the madcn.p," a I she h3,I called Ddlokhov.
' The.y say that Pierre himlellf L iu:-zLd by his grief."
N:v,'rtlheil:s, te-ll hliii to coWe to thei club,-it will
distract hiiui. It will b- a aerial banquet !"
Orn the fulluwing .lay, which wac the 3d of March, at
two o:,'loc:k in thir aftrnocuu, 250 membl'r: of the English
club and Ilftv inviti-te guests were av.-iting the arrival of
the illutriuus guest, the hr:, of the Austrian campaign,
Prince Ldgratiun.
At first, when the news was received of the battle of
Austerlitz, Moscow was perplexed. At that time the Rus-
sians were so used to victories that, upon getting the
news of the defeat, they simply refused to believe it;
others tried to find explanations for such a strange fact in
some unusual causes. In the English club, where all the
aristocracy and the best informed and most important
personages gathered, nothing was said about the war and
the last battle, when the news began to come in Decem-
ber, as though all had agreed to keep quiet about it.
Men who gave a certain direction to conversations, such
as Count Rostopchin, Prince Yuri Vladimirovich Dol-
goriiki, Valhev, Count Mark6v, Prince Vyizemski, did
not appear in the club, but met at private houses, in the
circles of their friends; and the Muscovites who only sec-
onded the opinions of others (among which number was
also Ilyd Andr6evich Rost6v) were for a short time left
without any definite judgment in the matter of the war
and without any guides. The Muscovites felt that some-
thing was wrong and that it was hard to discuss this bad
news, and so they chose to keep quiet about it. But after
awhile there appeared some dignitaries who, like jury-
men issuing from the jury-room, began to express their
opinions in the club, and all spoke out clearly and with-
out restraint. Causes were found explaining that incredi-
ble, unheard-of, and impossible event, the defeat of the

20 WAR AND PEACE

Russian-, and everything be'.arne clear, and the same
thing was repeated in all the ,-':rneri of Mo: -cw. These
causes were: the tr:eas-:n of tihe Austriius, the p:or sup-
plies of the army, the trea-:.ou of the Pole Przebyi-:'wl:;
and of the Fren:himan Laigeron, Kuttizov's in,:.apal::ity,
and (s, they lwhisipcred) the youth ind iuexperieL.ce :If
the emperor, who:i had trute-d to:- bad, insiguiiicaut meu.
But the trol:l:p, the Russian troops, so all said, had been
unusual and had a.Op,:,:,bou -he mLrvels .-,f valour. The
soldiers, >tiers, an'd geuerals, were heroes. LBuit the her:
of herc-e' was Pnn,:e EBatrati6n, who had covered himself
with glory in the Sch':;iqralben t ug-agemen t and in his re-
treat iron Autterlitz, where e \[ wa the :only' o:e who had
led away hic. column in g:ood order and for a whole day had
fought again-t an enery twi,.e as strouin as he wa.-. II.-
selecti': n a hero was lprol.: ited lby the iat that lie had lno
connections in Moscow and was a stranger there. In his
person proper due was given to a simple Russian soldier,
who was devoid of connections and intrigues and who by
the memories of the Italian campaign was still connected
with the name of Suv6rov. Besides, the unpopularity of
Kuttzov and the disapprobation of his acts were best
expressed in showing such honours to him.
"If there had been no Bagrati6n, il faudrait I'in-
venter," said the jester Shinshin, parodying Voltaire's
words. Nobody spoke of Kutizov, and some scolded
him in a whisper, calling him a weather-vane of the
court and an old satyr.
All of Moscow repeated the words of Prince Dolgordki,
"He who moulds in clay, finally gets covered with dirt,"
consoling himself in our defeat by the memory of our
former victories, and the words of Rostopchin, who said
that French soldiers have to be stirred to battles with
high-flown words; that Germans must be reasoned
with logically, and convinced that it is more dangerous
to run than to advance; but that Russian soldiers had

4..

55

WAR A2ND PEACE 21

only to be restrained and asked to go more slowly. On
all sides were heard ever new stories of individual cases
of bravery shown by our soldiers and officers at Auster-
litz. One had saved a flag; another had killed five
Frenchmen; a third had all by himself loaded five can-
non. Those who did not know Berg told of him that,
having been wounded in his right hand, he had taken his
sword in his left and thus had advanced against the
enemy. Nothing was said of Bolk6nski, and only those
who had known him intimately were sorry to hear that
he had died so young, leaving a pregnant wife in the
house of such an odd father.

ON the 3d of March ther- wis a din of v\,les in
the English club, and the members arid gutsts. dlrcsed
in uniforms and evening coat-, and s:,rme of th,.-m in
caftans and powdered wigs, m':,ved to: ] afd fr':. sat ldown,
stood around, and surged up and dow n. like betrs swvarm-
ing in spring. Powdered lakes in ]iver;', wearing
stockings and low shoes, stood at each do::r, intent (rn
catching every motion of the gucts and the mimb-ers of:
the club, in order to offer th-m their servi.e-. The
majority of those present were old. venerable men, with
broad, self-satisfied countenances, fat hnger', and hrmi
motions and voices. This class of guests and .o mermbtrs
sat in certain habitual places and gathered together in
certain habitual circles. The minority consisted of casual
guests, chiefly young men, among whom were also Deni-
sov, Rost6v, and D6lokhov, who was again an officer of
the Semdnovski regiment. On the faces of the youths,
especially of those serving in the army, there was an ex-
pression of contemptuous deference to the old men, which
seemed to say, We are prepared to respect and honour
you, but remember that the future is with us."
Nesvitski was there as an old member of the club.
Pierre, who by order of his wife had allowed his hair to
grow long, had taken off his glasses, and was dressed in
the latest fashion, kept walking from one room to another,
with a sad and gloomy expression on his face. He was
surrounded, as always, by a circle of men who bent their
knee before his wealth, but he treated them as though
accustomed to lord it and with absent-minded disdain.
22

WAR AND PEACE

According to 1hi age h- ought to have associated with
tlIhe young prepl>, but by hi- wealth and connections he
was a iiiember of the old, ilrclec of respectable guests, and
?:o hI kept goingg tf m 'on:''ni group to another. The more
distLuguisih:Id old mien ft'orm.: the centres of circles, which
were joined also by strangers who wanted to hear men of
note speak. The larger circles were formed about Count
Rostopchin, Valfiev, and Naryshkin. Rostopchin was tell-
ing how the Russians had been crushed by the fugitive
Austrians, and how they had to make a way for them-
selves through the fugitives by means of their bayonets.
Valdev was telling confidentially how UvArov had been
sent from St. Petersburg to find out the opinion of the
Muscovites in regard to the battle of Austerlitz.
In a third circle, Naryshkin repeated the anecdote
about the meeting of the Austrian council of war at
which Suv6rov crowed like a cock in response to the
stupidity of the Austrian generals. Shinshin, who was
standing near by, was on the point of saying some pleas-
antry, by remarking that Kutuzov had evidently not been
able to learn from Suv6rov the easy art of crowing; but
the old men looked sternly at the jester, giving him to
understand that it was improper on that day and in that
place to mention Kutuizov's name.
Count Ilya Andreevich Rost6v, stepping lightly in his
soft boots, walked hastily and with a careworn expression
from the dining-room into the drawing-room, hurriedly
and monotonously greeting important and unimportant
personages, all of whom he knew, and now and then
riveting his eyes on his stately son and winking at him.
Young Rostov was standing at the window with Dolo-
khov, with whom he had lately become acquainted, and
whose acquaintance he valued highly. The old count
went up to them and pressed D6lokhov's hand.
Come to see us! You are acquainted with my young
hero you have both done brave acts down there -

WAR AND PEACE

Ah, Vasili Ignatich-how are you, old man?" he turned
to a gentleman who happened to pass by, but before he
had finished his greeting, all began to stir, and a li ek-y,
running in with a frightened face, announced:
"He has arrived "
The bell was rung. The directors rushed forward; the
guests, who were scattered in the various rooms, coIllec:te.l
in one group, like winnowed rye on the fan, and st~.'ppe l
in the large drawing-room near the door leading to the
parlour.
Bagrati6n appeared in the door of the antechainber.
He wore neither his sword nor his hat, which, aco.::ldiun
to the usage of the club, he had left with the porter. He
did not make his appearance in his lambskin cap, \with
his Cossack whip slung across his shoulder, as Rot.:v
had seen him on the eve of the battle of Austerlitz, but,
in a new, closely fitting uniform, with Russian and for'?i.Lu
decorations and the star of St. George on his left Ii,- >:'t.
He had evidently just had his hair and his side whi:ke.ls
cropped, which changed his expression to his disadv:atage.
In his countenance there was something naive and a l.mn,
which, in conjunction with his firm, masculine features.
gave his face a certain comical expression.
Beklesh6v and FNdor Petr6vich UvArov, who came with
him, stopped at the door, asking him, as the chief gu,-,t, to:
precede them. Bagrati6n became confused and de- lined
their civility; there was a hitch at the door, after whl.:b
Bagrati6n passed first. As he walked in, he did not know
what to do with his hands and walked bashfully an..l awvk-
wardly over the parquetry of the drawing-room: he wa.
more accustomed to walk over a ploughed field under
bullets, as he had walked before the Kursk regiment at
Schtngraben, and he was much more at ease there.
The directors met him at the first door. They -iidl a
few words about their pleasure in seeing such an illu:trl-
ous guest and, without waiting for a reply, surr.'.un -ded

WAR AND PEACE

him, as thol,-uh taking plsssssio:n 'f: him, ind led him into
the dri:ling-ri-.'tmi. It was iumipos:siib t.. pass through the
du.r :.t the drawiug-r:'.:-m t:n a.:.::,uint .it the crowd of
miemblrs and ], uts wh.l: w,.re I'lressuig c.ich other and
trying over tb,:hir neihll.':ur-' sh.:uldlis to: get a peep at
Ia-rrat ait,as ai t s.:rme, rare animal. C'o:urlt I .i Andrkevich,
v.ho, was l:iu hiur mor:r ener,.-.tilly than the rest, and
sayLing all tlhc time. Let Le pass, ma i, -h), let me pass!"
pushed his way through the ciowd and led the guests into
the drawing-room, where he seated them on the middle
sofa. The more respected members of the club surrounded
the newcomers.
Count Ilya Andr4evich again pressed his way through
the crowd and left the room; a minute later he reappeared
with another director, carrying a large silver dish which
he took over to Prince Bagrati6n. On the dish lay a
printed poem specially written in his honour. Upon
seeing the dish, Bagratidn looked timidly about him, as
though in search of aid; but the eyes of all said that he
must submit. Feeling himself in their power, Bagrati6n
with determination grasped the dish with both his hands,
and angrily and reproachfully looked at the count, who
was handing it to him. Somebody obligingly took the
dish out of his hands (he looked as though he were pre-
pared to hold it until evening and to go with it to dinner)
and directed his attention to the poem. Bagrati6n seemed
to say, Well, I shall read it," and directing his weary eyes
to the paper, began to read with a concentrated and serious
look. The author himself took the poetry and began to
read it. Prince Bagrati6n inclined his head and listened.
Make glorious the age of Alexander
And preserve our Titus on the throne I
Be both a formidable general and a good man,
A Rhipheus in our country, a Cesar in the field I
And fortunate Napoleon,
Having found out who Bagrati6n is,
Will not dare again to trouble the Russian Alcides -"

WAR AND PEACE

Before he had finished his poem, a big-voicedI major-
domo proclaimed:
Dinner is served !"
The door opened, and in the dining-room wa- he'crd
the orchestra playing the Polonaise Let the thunder o'
victory peal, and the brave Russ rejoice !"
Prince Ilyi Andrdevich looked angrily at the lutlhor,
who continued to read the poem, and made a bow Ietiore
Bagration. All arose, feeling that the dinner was m:'r:t
important than the poem, and again Bagratidn led the
way to the table.
Bagrati6n was placed in the seat of honour, between
two Alexanders,-- Bekleshdv and Naryshkin, whlic h
had reference to the name of the emperor. Three hu.i.dred
men seated themselves in the dining-room acccrdiu.y t:,
rank and importance, those who were more n.t:iable
taking up their seats nearer to the honoured gues-t,
which they did as naturally as water seeks the l:wet
place.
Immediately before the dinner Count Ilya Andlr4evi.ih
introduced his son to the prince. Upon recognizing him,
Bagrati6n said a few words to him, incoherent and
awkward, like everything he said on that day. Count
Ilya Andrdevich surveyed the people present with an
expression of proud satisfaction while Bagrati,':n was
speaking with his son.
NikolAy Rost6v, Denisov, and Rost6v's new ::quaint-
ance, D6dokhov, sat down together at the middle ..t' the
table. Opposite them sat Pierre by the side of Prin,-e
Nesvitski. Count Ilya Andrdevich was sitting -ith the
other directors opposite Bagrati6n, waiting on the princ'e
and personifying Moscow hospitality.
His labours were not in vain. His dinner, both a. to
the meats and the other dishes, was superb, but he didl
not feel quite at ease until the end of it. He kept wink-
ing to the butler, gave whispered orders to the la'ckeys,

WAR AND PEACE

and nD:t without agitatvn waited for every familiar dish.
E\:n- thing was fiue With the seI.,nId course, when a
giganti,. .te-rlt wv t brought in (-eeing which Ilyi Andr-
e.vi:h bluslhel fr ju, l aui bIshiuln':s), the lackeys began
to: pop the bottl-. a tnl. to fill the gl,;.:'; with champagne.
After the ti l, whi,.h prIri:".icedl -i ,.ert-in impression, Count
Ily:i Andr.'eviih exchangedl glan..es with the other
directors.
There will be many toasts, so it is time to begin !" he
whispered, and rose with his glass in his hand.
All grew silent, in order to hear what he was going to
say.
To the health of the Tsar, our emperor !" he exclaimed,
and immediately his kindly eyes became moistened with
tears of joy and transport.
At the same time the music struck up, Let the thunder
of victory peal." All rose from their seats and shouted
" Hurrah !" and Bagrati6n shouted "Hurrah!" in the same
voice with which he had cried it on the field of Schbn-
graben. The enthusiastic voice of young Rost6v could be
heard through all the three hundred voices. He almost
wept. To the health of the Tsar, our emperor!" he
shouted, "Hurrah!" Gulping down his glass at one
draught, he threw it on the floor. Many followed his
example. The loud cries lasted for quite awhile. When
the voices became silent, the lackeys picked up the
broken glasses, and all sat down, laughing at the noise
which they had made and talking to their neighbours.
Count Ilyi Andrnevich again rose, looked at the note
which was lying near his plate, and proclaimed a toast for
the health of the hero of our last campaign, Prince Peter
Ivinovich Bagratidn, and again the count's blue eyes
were moistened with tears. Hurrah !" again shouted
three hundred voices, and, instead of the orchestra,
singers sang a cantata composed by PAvel Ivanovich
Kutdzov.

28 WAR AND PEACE

All obstacles are useless to the Russes,
Bravery is the earnest of victory I
So long as we have Bagrati6ns,
All enemies will be at our feet "

When the singers stopped, one toast followed another.
Count Ilyi Andreevich grew ever more sentimental;
more and more glasses were broken, and the shouts
became louder and louder. They drank the health of
Beklesh6v, Naryshkin, Uvdrov, Dolgortiki, Aprriksin,
Valiev, the health of the directors, of the manger. ,:of
all the members of the club, of all the guests, and finally,
separately, the health of the organizer of the tlina-r,
Count Ilyi Andreevich. During this toast the count t.:ok
out his handkerchief and, covering his face with it, burst
into tears.

PIERRE was seated opposite D6lokhov and Nikoly
Rost6v. He ate and drank much and with eagerness,
as was his custom. But those who knew him intimately
saw that a great change had on that day taken place
in him. He was silent during the whole dinner. He
looked about him, winking and frowning, or, with the
look of complete absent-mindedness, kept poking his
finger in his nose. His face was sombre and morose.
He did not seem to see or hear what was going on all
about him, but to be reflecting on something that was
oppressing him, and to be seeking for a solution.
This undecided question which so tormented him was
the allusions made by the princess at Moscow in regard
to D6lokhov's intimacy with his wife, and an anonymous
letter which he had received that very morning and in
which was said, with that base jocularity, so character-
istic of anonymous letters, that he did not see well
through his glasses and that his wife's intimacy with
D6lokhov was a secret to him alone. Pierre positively
refused to believe the hints of the princess or the letter,
but it made him feel terribly to look at Dolokhov, who
was sitting in front of him. Every time Pierre's glance
accidentally met D6lokhov's beautiful, bold eyes, he was
conscious of something terrible and monstrous rising in
his soul, and he hastened to turn his face away. Invol-
untarily recalling the whole past of his wife, Pierre saw
clearly that what was said in the letter might be true,
at least might appear to be true if did not have reference
to his wife.

WAR AND PEACE

Pierre involuntarily recalled how D61okhov, wh,.. had
been restored to his rights after the campaign, had re-
turned to St. Petersburg and had come to his house. I.'n
the basis of his former carousing relations with i'ierr':,
D6lokhov went directly to him, and he settled himii in
his house and loaned him money. Pierre recalled h,..w
H6l6ne, smiling, had expressed her disapproval of DIl,:.-
khov's stay with them, and how D6lokhov had c) nri :ally
praised his wife's beauty before him, and how he h'i-. n:ot
left them for a minute up to his arrival in Moscow.
Yes, he is very handsome," thought Pierre. I knw-.
him. It would give him an uncommon pleasure t,:
besmirch my name and to laugh at me, even IcJul-
I have interested myself in his behalf, and have h.-Ilp-[d.
him and taken care of him. I know and understand
what seasoning that would be for his deception if it were
true. Yes, if it were true. But I do not believe it,-
I have no right to believe it, and I won't."
He recalled the expression which D6lokhov'- face
assumed when assailed by moments of cruelty, as whrn
he had tied the captain of police with the bear and had
set them afloat, or when he had challenged a man t,:,
a duel for no cause whatsoever, or when he had killed .
driver's horse with a shot from his pistol. This r-xpr:--
sion was frequently on Dolokhov's face, as he I.ukrd.
at him.
"Yes, he is a bully," thought Pierre. "It is n.othi u
for him to kill a man; it must seem to him that all arr
afraid of him, and that must give him pleasure. He
must think that I am afraid of him, and so I :in,
thought Pierre, and again he felt at this thought th1it
something terrible and monstrous was rising in hi soul.
D6lokhov, Denisov, and Rost6v were now sitting i-Ippo-
site Pierre, and seemed to be very jolly. Rostiv- w;a
merrily conversing with his two companions, of \vbh:'in
one was a dashing hussar and the other a well-kuiwv.u

WAR AND PEACE

bully and madcap ; lie Low and then cast a sarcastic
;*lance at 'Pi'irt, %% lit at this d.liilner struck everybody by
i ,:,:.r ccntrt.-itcd, absent-iiiiJnddIx ma._sive figure. Rost6v
looked ,.li*lsappi:, vingly at I'lirri, in thie first place, because,
t:i a hbu.-:ar's tlllkii 'ler'r wa. ai nab:ob not in military
-erviL:e, the hIusband :t a I)eajitiful woman, in general, a
sijcy ; li the secondd rplac-., :bel:aus Pierre, in his concen-
tritio.u .'f mUnd and distraction, had not recognized Rostdv
and had not returned his greeting. When they began to
drink the emperor's health, Pierre absent-mindedly did
not rise, nor take up his glass.
What is the matter with you ?" Rost6v cried, looking
at him with eyes full of transport and anger. Do you
not hear ? It is the health of the Tsar, our emperor!"
Pierre heaved a sigh, rose submissively, emptied his
glass, and, waiting for all to sit down, turned to Rost6v,
with a kindly smile on his face.
I did not recognize you," he said.
But Rost6v did not hear him; he was busy crying,
"Hurrah!"
Why do you not renew your acquaintance ?" Ddlokhov
said to Rost6v.
"God preserve him! He is such a fool," said Rost6v.
"One must fondle the husbands of pretty women,"
said Denisov.
Pierre did not hear what they were saying, but he
knew that they were speaking of him. He blushed
and turned his face away.
Now, the health of beautiful women," said Dl6okhov,
with a serious expression, but with a smile at the corners
of his lips, turning to Pierre, with the glass in his hand.
To the health of beautiful women, Pierre, and of their
lovers !" he said.
Pierre lowered his eyes and drank from his glass, with-
out looking at D6lokhov, or making any reply to him. A
lackey, who was distributing Kutuizov's cantata, put down

32 WAR AND PEACE

a sheet before Pierre, as a more distinguished tie-it. He
was on the point of picking it up, when DT)'l.khibv lint
over the table, grasped the sheet out of hic hand'. uanl
began to read it. Pierre looked at D6lokh':-v, aul hib
pupils fell: that terrible and monstrous feeling, ~rhi'.h
had been tormenting him during the diruci, r'.,re anil
took possession of him. He bent with hic -hAl.lb ollest-
body over the table:
Don't dare to take it!" he cried.
Upon hearing these words and seeing t,: whom they
were addressed, Nesvitski and his neighbour i.,u the ri-'ht
were frightened. They hastily addressed ITezhl;i:
Stop it! What are you doing ? the fright'..-i:l voiirc
whispered to him.
D6lokhov looked at Pierre with his bright, bcheerful.
cruel eyes, with a smile which seemed to say, N,"w, thii
is what I like !"
"I will not give it to you!" he said, in a icle-r vi.:'rI:
Pale with excitement and with tremblin- lips, Pi'rrre
tore the sheet away from him.
"You-you-are a scoundrel!-I challenu-e Y.,u,"
he muttered and, removing his chair, left the t:.ldt.
The very second he did this and pronuu.iul:' thece
words, he felt that the question of his wife'; guilt, whi:h
had tormented him for a whole day, was definitely randl
finally answered in the affirmative. He lte.l her and
broke with her for ever. In spite of Deni;,:'.' rei.uest
that Rost6v should not become embroiled i, this AHan.
Rost6v consented to become D6lokhov's second. Aft ei
the dinner he discussed the conditions of the duel with
Nesvitski, Bezdkhi's second. Pierre went bh.unm, while
Rost6v, D6lokhov, and Denisov remained in the clu1l until
late at night, listening to the gipsies and the swger.
Au revoir until to-morrow, in the Soki'luniLi." said
D6lokhov, taking leave of Rost6v on the por.h ,:~f the
club.

WAR AND PEACE

..A nild you are ialn ?" :tk-,':] l-Kr-t6v.
DI."lok: h tov tpp: d.
You r-:. I will re-v-al to you the "\hole secret of a
duel iu a few- words. If you go to a iuie:l and write your
will and tender letters to your parents, and if you think
of the possibility of being killed, you are a fool and you
are certainly lost. You must go with the firm intention
of killing your adversary as expeditiously and surely as
possible, and then all goes well, as our Kostromi bear-
hunter used to tell me. Instead of being afraid of the
bear, terror leaves you the moment you see him, and all
you are afraid of is that he might get away from you!
So it is with me A dentain, mon cher "
On the following day, at eight o'clock in the morning,
Pierre and Nesvitski arrived at the Sok6lniki forest, where
they found Ddlokhov, Denisov, and Rost6v. Pierre had
the aspect of a man occupied with combinations which
had nothing in common with the matter at hand. His
sunken face was yellow. Apparently he had not slept
during the night. He looked absent-mindedly about him
and frowned as though to shield his eyes against the
bright sun. Two reflections occupied him: the guilt of
his wife, of which he no longer had the slightest doubt,
after a sleepless night, and the innocence of D6lokhov,
who had no reason to protect the honour of a stranger.
"Maybe I should have done the same in his place,"
thought Pierre. I am sure I should have done it. Why,
then, this duel, this murder? Either I shall kill him, or
he will wound me in the head, the elbow, or the knee. If
I could only get away from here, run, bury myself some-
where," it occurred to him. But during these very
minutes, while these thoughts came to him, he with a
peculiarly calm and indifferent look, which inspired re-
spect for him in those who were looking at him, kept
asking: "How soon will it be ? Is all ready ?"
When all was ready, and the sabres were stuck in the

WAR AND PEACE

snow to indicate the barrier toward which they were to
walk, and the pistols loaded, Nesvitski \vl;ked o:\ve tV
Pierre.
"I should not be doing my duty, count," he said. in a
timid voice, and should not be justifying that c,.ntfi.,enme
which you have placed in me, and the hon,:,ur which you
have done me, in choosing me as your second, if at this
important, extremely important moment I did nt t.-ll I .u
the whole truth. I assume that this affair ha' no tuffi-
ciently grave motive to justify the sheddinQ of bkl.ud -
You were wrong, not quite in the right.- you were
excited "
"Oh, yes, it is terribly stupid-" said Pierre.
Permit me, then, to inform them of your regrets. and
I am sure that our adversaries will consent to: receive
your apology," said Nesvitski, who, like the other rarti'i-
pants in the affair, and like everybody ehe under imiliar
circumstances, did not believe that it would co.uie to. an
actual duel. "You know, count, it is mu,:h nobler to
confess an error than to carry an affair to: a pomt where
it cannot be corrected. There were no iusults on either
side. Permit me to confer with them !"
No, what is there to talk about ?" said Pierre. It is
all the same- Is everything ready ?" he ddiled. .ust
tell me where I have to go and where to shoo.t." lic said.
with an unnatural and meek smile. He took the pistol
in his hand and began to ask about the m.inmer .f pulling
the trigger, as he had never before had a pi-t:Al in hi-
hands, though he did not wish to confess the fLit. .. Oh,
yes, like this, I know,- I had just forgotten." he said.
No apologies, absolutely nothing," DI.l61kh1.v said to
Denisov, who, on his side, had also made an attempt
to bring about a reconciliation, as he was walking over t,
the appointed place.
The spot chosen for the duel was within eighty p.ces
from the road on which the sleighs had -tCupped, in a

WAR AND PEACE 35

small clearing in the pine forest, covered with half-melted
snow. The adversaries were standing within forty paces
of each other, on the edge of the clearing. The seconds,
leaving deep tracks in the wet snoww,mea.ured the dis-
tanc:e from the place where they had :eeIu standing to the
sabres i Nesvitski and Denisov, which indicated the bar-
rier and which were stuc:k in the snow within ten paces
of each other. The thaw and nmst of the past few days
had not yet disappeared; it was impossible to see any-
thing within forty steps of each other. In three minutes
all was ready, and yet they were hesitating to begin. All
were silent.

"WELL, begin !" said D6lokhov.
All right," said Pierre, still smiling.
It was growing terrible. It was evident that the affair
which had begun so easily could not be averted, that it
was taking its natural course, independently of the will i:f
men, and had to be carried out. Denisov was the firit to
walk up to the barrier; he called out:
"Since the adversaries have declined to be concili-tt-ld.
will it not please you to begin ? Take your pistols, a;,d
after three is counted, you begin to approach each oth-r."
"One, two, three Denisov counted, in an angry vwi,:-:,
stepping aside.
Both approached each other nearer and nearer on Lth
trodden path, recognizing each other in the mist. The
adversaries had the right to shoot whenever they pleas-d.
as they walked toward the barrier. D6lokhov walk,'.i
leisurely, without raising his pistol, looking with hi,
bright, shining eyes at the face of his adversary. Hi-
mouth bore, as always, an expression resembling a sAile.
"So I may shoot whenever I please!" said Pierre. At
the word "three" he rapidly moved forward, missing th.-
trodden path and walking over the snow. Pierre ws
holding his pistol before him in his right hand, as thcu-eh
afraid to hurt himself with it. His left hand he carefully
put back, fearing lest he would support his right Laiud,
which was not permissible. After making about six rtepr
and stepping from the beaten path into the untrodden
snow, Pierre looked at his feet, again cast a rapid gla u.:i
at D6lokhov, and, pulling his finger as he had been taught
36

WAR AND PEACE

to, do, fired off the piist:l PIirre L,.l unot expected such a
loud discharge, anIl so treml-te'l at its sound; then he
smiled- at his own impre siori, and' sto:,pped The smoke,
which was unusually den-ze on account :of the mist, made
it impios:ibll for him to see lauything in the first moment;
but a sccndi i shlit, fi'r which he was waiting, did not
follow. He could only hear D6lokhov's hurried steps,
and through the smoke see his figure. With one hand he
was holding his left side; the other clutched the drooping
pistol. His face was pale. Rost6v ran up to him and told
him something.
N-n-o," D6lokhov muttered through his teeth, no, it
is not ended," and making a few more tottering, unsteady
steps toward the sabre, he fell down on the snow near
it. His left hand was blood-stained: he wiped it on
his coat and leaned on it. His face was pale; it frowned
and quivered.
"If you Dl6okhov began, but was not able to finish
the sentence at once, if you please," he finished it with
an effort.
Pierre with difficulty restrained his sobs. He started to
run toward D6lokhov and was on the point of crossing the
space which separated the barriers, when D6lokhov ex-
claimed: "To the barrier!" and Pierre, understanding
what he meant, stopped at his sabre. Only ten paces
separated them. D61okhov dropped his head on the snow,
eagerly bit into it, again raised his head, adjusted himself,
drew up his legs, and sat down, trying to find a safe centre
of gravity. He swallowed the cold snow and sucked it;
his lips trembled, but his eyes, still smiling, glistened with
the malice and effort of his last strength. He raised his
pistol and began to aim.
Sidewise, cover yourself with your pistol," said Nes-
vitski.
Cover yourself!" Denisov, unable to restrain himself,
called out to his adversary.

38 WAR AND PEACE

Pierre, with a meek smile of compassion and remorse,
helplessly spread his legs and arms, exp.r.ed his broad
chest to D6lokhov, and sadly looked at him. Denis:v,
Rost6v, and Nesvitski shut their eyes. At the inje ino-
ment they heard a shot and D6lokhov's fercii.;us cry.
Missed! cried D6lokhov, lying helplessly di.,wn on
the snow, with his face downward. Pierre seized hi-
head as he turned around, walked into the forest ,vr
the untrodden snow, and loudly repeated unintelligiblei
words:
Stupid stupid I Death a lie -" he relpeated,
scowling. Nesvitski stopped him and took him whone.
Rost6v and Denisov drove away with wounded 1)61i -
khov.
Ddlokhov lay silent, with shut eyes, in the sleigh; he
did not reply to the questions put to him; but, upnri
reaching Moscow, he suddenly came to, and, with ditti-
culty raising his head, he took the hand of RIo:tv, who
was sitting near him. Rost6v was struck by the coum-
pletely changed expression of D6lokhov's face, which nuw
suddenly looked transported and tender.
Well ? How do you feel ?" Rost6v asked him.
Badly! But that is 'another matter. My friend,"
D6lokhov said, in a wavering voice, "where are we \V
are in Moscow, I know. I am all right, but I have killed
her, I have killed her- She will not survive it. She
will not survive-"
"Who ? asked Rost6v.
"My mother. My mother, my angel, my ad.'red angell,
my mother!" and D6lokhov wept, pressing H:'3st-v's
hand.
When he had calmed himself a little, he expl:aiued to
Rost6v that he was living with his mother and that if his
mother saw him dying, she would not be abll, to endure
it. He begged Rost6v to go and see her and t.:. prrepre
her.

\AI: AND PEACE 3'.

Rost6v drove ahead to carry out his request, and to his
great surprise learned that D6lokhov, this riotous fellow
and bully, was living in Moscow with an old mother and
a hunchbacked sister, and that he was the tenderest of
sons and brothers to them.

PIERRE had not met his wife very often v.ithl.ut wit-
nesses for some time past. In St. Petersburg and. in
Moscow their house was always full of guests. Ou the
night after the duel he did not go to the s.eepiun-ri..um,
which was not at all unusual, but remained in the
immense cabinet of his father, the same in which C'o:unt
Beziikhi had died.
He lay down on the sofa and wanted to full asleep, in
order to forget all that had happened, but h- was v un-iabl
to do so. Such a storm of feelings, thought, iand r:-i..1-
lections suddenly rose in his soul, that he vwa' unable tE:.
sleep, or even to sit still, but was obliged to jump lup fiiuU
the sofa and rapidly to pace up and down in the room.
Now he thought of her during the first time just itt,:r his
marriage, with her bare shoulders and weary, p.afslI:-nat-.
glance, and immediately there rose by her side D1 ,:'.lkhov'
handsome, impudent, and sarcastic smile, such ias he had
seen at the dinner, and the same face, pal., trnalling,
and suffering, such as it was when he turned ar...uind and
fell down on the snow.
"What has happened?" he asked himself. I hare
killed her lover, yes, I have killed the lover .t my witk
Yes, that is what has happened. Why? How did I
come to do it? "
Because you have married her," an inner vo:icv tul1.i
him.
"But where is my guilt ?" he asked himself.
"You are guilty of having married her without loving
her, of having deceived both yourself and her."
40

WAR AND PEACE

And lie \ivilly r.-preF-.-ted to himi-elf that moment
aft'-r the suIpp[r at the h.oliie o:f Prince- V;iili, when he
had littered thes.:- world. Jr 1 .( I'ilm "' whic:.h were so
hard to s-.y. That \was. the whole trouble
I f-lt \v-nl then." he thou'hbt. I felt e-venu then that
it .wat unt right, that I wa domg wr.n-,g. And so it has
turned out."
He recalled his honeymoon and blushed at this recol-
lection. Especially vivid, offensive, and disgraceful was
the recollection of how once, soon after his marriage, he
at noon left the sleeping-room in his silk morning-gown
and entered his cabinet, where he found his manager, who
bowed respectfully, looked into Pierre's face and at his
morning-gown, and then slightly smiled, as though to ex-
press his respectful interest in the happiness of his
master.
How often have I prided myself in her, in her
majestic beauty, in her worldly tact," he thought; "I was
proud of my house in which she received all of St. Peters-
burg; I was proud of her inaccessibility and beauty. So
this is what I have been priding myself in! I then
thought that I did not understand her. How often did I
try to comprehend her character, saying to myself that it
was my fault if I did not understand her, if I did not
understand that constant calm, impassibility, and absence
of all strong desire, whereas the whole solution lay in
the one word, that she was an immoral woman. Say this
terrible word, and everything is clear!
"Anat61 once came to borrow some money of her, and
he kissed her on her bare shoulders. She gave him no
money, but allowed him to kiss her. Her father jestingly
tried to rouse her jealousy; she told him with a calm
smile that she was not so stupid as to be jealous: Let
him do what he pleases !' she said of me. I once asked
her whether she did not feel any signs of pregnancy. She
laughed contemptuously, and said that she was not such

WAR AND PEACE

a fool as to have chld.reni, and that there would be none
from me."
Then he recallUd the .:,:rs~neo ; and frankuess of her
thoughts and the? vulgarity of the expre-siouns which Wert
characteristic of her, in spite of her :dui:ati,,n in the
higher aristocratic crcle.
I am nobody's f:,: l- go and see for yoi :urelf- al.:
vouspromener," she used to: say.
Seeing her success in the eye o'f old an'l young, men
and women, Pierre had frequently b-een at a lo s to
understand why h.- did nt lvi' h'.r.
"No, I have Lue%: r lv'ed her," Pierre said to himself.
"I knew that she wa- an imitn:,ral \ro:,malj," he repeated
to himself, "but did] nt have the courage toi ci-nfes it to
myself.
"And now D-Ilo'kh:'v is sitting in the cnow, smiling L
forced smile and lying, .perhaptj, relying with feigned
bravado to my rlep'tari:e "
Pierre was on,- of th,)e men wh,-, in spite of their So-
called external weakntes--s f iharac.ter-, d,: nut ceek for a
confidant in their grief. He strugglel with it by hitn.elf.
"She, she alone is to blaine for everything," he said
to himself, "but wh:at of it 'Whiy di'd I tie myself to her,
why did I tell her that, -' J. i,,s in,,iu,' wthi.:h w as a lie
and worse than a li t" lie said to: hiiuself. "- It is Wy
fault and I must bear it Whatt ? The dibgra:ce of my
name? The misfortune of uyv life" Ah, it iq all nn-
sense," he thought, di.igm:e aun ho:in:lur, everything is
conditional, nothing idpeeidls on nie.
"Louis XVI. was ,-xecuted be'-ause they sjid that he
was dishonest and a ,crimiuail," it suddenly i.icurreld t-,
Pierre, "and they were rizht from th.-ir point -f vi.'w,
just as those were right wh:o I ied a martyr's death for
him, and who accounted lini, a saint. Tlheu Roibesr'lirre
was executed be,-:cue he Was a idel-ot. Who i right
who wrong? N,-,'Lody. Like, if you are alive To-mor-

WAR AND PEACE

row you will .lie, jiust as I might have iied an hour ago.
And is it worth while to torumet o:'n e-:.lf, when there is
but one second left to live, as compared with eternity ?"
But at the moment when he thought he had calmed
himself with reflections of this kind, she suddenly ap-
peared to him as at those moments when he expressed to
her his insincere love, and he felt his blood rush to his
heart, and had to get up again, and move about, and break
and tear anything which fell into his hands.
Why did I tell her Je vous aime' ? he kept repeat-
ing to himself, and, after repeating it for the tenth time, he
suddenly recalled Moliere's, Mais que diable allait-il
fire dans cette galore ? and he laughed at himself.
At night he called his valet, and ordered him to pack
for St. Petersburg. He could not think of talking with
her again. He decided to leave on the following day,
and to leave her a letter in which he would inform her of
his intention to separate from her for ever.
In the morning, when his valet entered the cabinet,
bringing his coffee, Pierre was lying on a divan, holding
an open book in his hand, and fast asleep.
He awoke and looked in a frightened way all about
him, unable to comprehend where he was.
The countess wishes to know if your Serenity is at
home," said the valet.
Pierre had not yet been able to decide on an answer,
when the countess herself, in a white velvet morning-
gown, embroidered with silver lace, and in her natural
hair (two immense braids en diademe twice encircled her
exquisite head), calmly and majestically entered the room.
With her imperturbable calm she refrained from speaking
in the presence of the valet. She knew of the duel and
came to speak to him about it. She waited until the
valet put down the coffee and left the room. Pierre
looked timidly at her above his glasses, and as a hare, sur-
rounded by hounds, drops his ears and lies in sight of his

WAR AND PEACE

enemies, so he tried to read, but he felt that it was senpse-
less and impossible, and so he again cast a timid glauc.e at
her. She did not sit down, but looked at himj with a
disdainful smile, waiting for the valet to leave.
"What is this ? What have you done, I ask yo:u," hu
said, sternly.
"I ? What is it ?" said Pierre..
"A brave fellow you are Tell me what kind :,f a luel
is that? What did you wish to prove by it? What ; I
ask you."
Pierre"turned heavily around on his divan, op'n:ri-d hii
mouth, but found no answer.
If you are not going to answer, I will tell vyu "
continued Hel1ne. "You believe everything you are tol.l.
You were told HQB1ne laughed that Ddlol:ihuv wars
my lover," she said in French, with her vulgar exa,:tne-s
of speech, pronouncing the word "lover" like any theirr
word, "and you believed it! Well, what did yo:u pio:ve
by it? What have you proved by this duel? Tha.t vyou
are a fool, que vous etes un sot, and nobody has doubt et.
this! To what will this lead? That I shall be:.co:me the
laughing-stock of the whole of Moscow; that everyl.'dy
will say that you, in a drunken fit and beside vyo:,ir elf,
challenged a man whom you have no reason to be jealo,:us
of," HQlbne raised her voice more and more an..l i:eawe
animated, "and who is better than you in :.-very re-
spect "
"Hem hem-" growled Pierre, frowning. He d'dil
not look at her and did not stir a limb.
What made you believe that he was my lover ?
What? Is it because I like his society? If y',-. e:rct
cleverer and more agreeable, I should prefer yours."
"Do not speak with me I implore you," Pierre wrhis-
pered, hoarsely.
Why should I not speak? I can speak anri I will
tell you boldly that there are few women who. having

WAR AND PEACE

such a husIlan as y'.i ar., woulId uL:t keep lovers (des
amants), but I did not do it," she said.
Pierre was on the point of saying something; he looked
at her with strange eyes, the expression of which she did
not understand, and again lay down on the sofa. He was
suffering physically at that moment: there was a heavy
weight on his breast, and he could not breathe. He knew
that he had to do something in order to stop this suffer-
ing, but that which he felt like doing was too terrible.
"We had better separate," he said, in a wavering voice.
"Separate ? Very well, if you give me alimony," said
H6dlne. "You do not frighten me much by the threat of
a separation!"
Pierre leaped up from the divan and, tottering, rushed
up toward her.
"I will kill you he cried, and, seizing a marble slab
which was lying on the table, he made a step toward her,
brandishing it with a force which he did not know he
possessed.
H6tlne's face looked terrible: she looked at him and
jumped aside. Pierre experienced the attraction and the
charm of rage. He threw down the slab, breaking it in
pieces, and, walking up to her with open arms, shouted,
"Get out !" in such a terrible voice that everybody in the
house heard it and was horrified. God knows what Pierre
would have done at that moment if H6tlne had not run
out of the room.

A week later Pierre gave his wife a full power for the
management of all his Great-Russian estates, which con-
stituted the greater half of his fortune, and went by
himself to St. Petersburg.

VII.

Two months had passed inr:e the news had been
received at Lsyya Gory about the Ibattle of Aiiuterlitz
and the disaster to Prince An'lr.'y. Iin -pite. of all the
letters sent through the embtas~sy ;and of all tb,: s:zar:hb
made, his body had not been fouhri, .ani he wa:s not
among the number of the captives. His relatives fell his
loss the more terribly since ther, Ias a hop: l],-ft that hb
had been picked up by the inbhalitaint on the ti:Id (o
battle, and was lying somewhere ro:u\vale-i:iug ,:r lying,
all alone among strangers, povwrless to gi\e a ny inflorma-
tion about himself. In the g.uetteF, from which the old-
prince for the first time learned al.::,nt the def-eat a1t Aus-
terlitz, it said, very indistinctly andl briefly, as always.
that after brilliant battles the RI:uLsian had ie. n :.:im-
pelled to retreat and that the retreat took l'lae:t in co:iplet..
order. The old prince underst:i:odl from this :itticiail ;tt,:-
ment that our army had been leateu. A week after this
gazette had brought the news :of the Austerlitz I.iattle,
there arrived a letter from Kutilzov. wvho: informed] the
prince of the fate which had befalleu 1 .L son.
"Your son fell before my eyes." KutitLc'(: wr:te. with
the flag in his hands, in front of the: regimet,-- a hero
worthy of his father and his couritry. To the regret :f
the whole army and of myself, we have not yet found .:.ut
whether he is alive or not. I flatter y'-i and rmy-'l
with the hope that your son is alike, for otherwise he
would have been mentioned among the number of officers
found on the field of battle, a list ':f whom was giv,-n me
by the bearers of flags of truce."
46

WAR AND PEACE

The old prince received this i:wvs late in the evening,
when hle was all alone in his cabilunt. On tlih following
morning he took hi- i:'us-tomary walk, but Ihe wbas reticent
w-ith hi.; ,c'l,.rk, liis gardener, and hisi i ar:iit;e;t, and though
he looked angry, lie did not cay a word to any omn..
When Princss Mihy; la I:ame to l him at th,. appointed
time, he was standing at the lathe and turning something
upon it; he did not look back at her, just as usual.
Ah Princess Mdrya!" he suddenly said, in an un-
natural voice, throwing away the chisel.
The wheel continued to turn from the impulse which
it had received. Princess MArya for a long time remem-
bered that dying squeak of the wheel, which for her
blended with that which followed.
Princess Marya moved up toward him, and when she
saw his face, something seemed suddenly to have dropped
within her. Her eyes stopped seeing plainly. She saw
by her father's face, which was not sad, nor crushed, but
angry and struggling unnaturally to control itself, that
a terrible misfortune, the worst of her life, was impend-
ing, ready to crush her, -a misfortune which she had
not yet experienced, an irreparable, incomprehensible
misfortune, the death of him whom she loved.
"Mon pere! Andre !" the graceless, awkward princess
said, with such an inexpressible charm of sorrow and
self-forgetfulness that her father could not withstand
her glance, but turned his face away and burst out
weeping.
"I have had some news: he is not among the captives,
nor among the killed. Kutdzov writes," he shouted in
a piercing voice, as though wishing to drive the princess
away with this shout, he is killed !"
The princess did not fall down, nor did she feel like
fainting. She was already pale, but when she heard
these words, her face became changed and something
sparkled in her beautiful, beaming eyes. It was as

WAR AND PEACE

though joy, a higher joy, independent of the sorrows and
joys of this world, had suddenly spread over that str-.ng:
sorrow which was within her. She forgot all her fe.,r
of her father, went up to him, took his hand and drew- it
toward her, and embraced his dry, venous neck.
"AMon pe're," she said, "do not turn away from me!
Let us weep together!"
"Rascals, scoundrels !" cried the old man, turning I d
face away from her. To ruin an army, to ruin pec'plI !
For what ? Go, go, and tell Liza !"
The princess fell powerless into an armchair near her
father and burst out into tears. She now saw her brothl-r
at the moment when he was bidding Liza and her gooid-
bye, with his tender and at the same time hau.-lty
aspect. She saw him at the moment when he tenderly
and sarcastically put on the talisman.
Did he believe? Did he repent his unbelief ? I- he
there now? There, in the abode of eternal peace and
bliss?" she thought.
Mon pe're, tell me how it happened," she said to her
father through tears.
Go, go! He was killed in a battle to which they to:'k;
out the best Russian men to be killed and the Rus-l.in
glory to be trampled upon. Go, Princess Marya! ("
and tell Liza I will be there."
When Princess Marya returned from her father, tjhe
little princess was sitting at her work; she glanced .it
Princess M6rya with that peculiar expression of inw.-irl
calm and happiness which is characteristic of pregn.ut
women. It was evident that her eyes did not see Priu-
cess Marya, but were looking within herself, at something
blissful and mysterious that was taking place in her.
Marie," she said, turning away from the embroi,.:ry
frame and leaning back, let me have your hand !"
She took the hand of the princess and put it on her
abdomen.

WAR AND PEACE

Her eyes smiled :i smIill of expectajtcy and her down-
covered lip rose and remained in that position, which
gave her the appearance of childish happiness.
Princess MIrya knelt down before her and concealed
her face in the folds of the dress of her sister-in-law.
"Now, now, do you hear? It makes me feel so
strange. Do you know, Marie, I shall love him so much!"
said Liza, looking at her sister-in-law with sparkling and
happy eyes.
Princess Mirya could not lift her eyes: she was
weeping.
"What is the matter with you, Mdrya?"
Nothing I feel so sad so sad about Andr6y," she
said, wiping her tears on Liza's knees.
Princess Marya began several times during the morn-
ing to prepare her sister-in-law, and every time burst out
weeping. These tears, the cause of which the little prin-
cess could not comprehend, agitated her, however little
observing she was. She did not say anything, but kept
looking around, as though in search of something. Before
dinner the old prince, of whom she was always afraid,
entered her room; he now had a peculiarly restless and
evil expression on his face; he went out again without
saying a word. She looked at Princess Marya, then fell
to musing with that expression of her eyes turned in-
wardly toward herself, which one sees in pregnant women,
and suddenly burst out weeping.
"Have you heard anything from Andr6y ?" she asked.
"No, you know that there has not been time for any
news, but mon pere is anxious about him, and I feel
terribly."
"So there is nothing ?"
Nothing," said Princess Mirya, looking firmly at her
sister-in-law with her beaming eyes.
She decided not to tell her anything and persuaded her
father to keep the news from her until the birth of the

50 WAR AND PEACE

child, which was to happen in a few days. I'rinc'.-
Marya and the old prince bore and concealed their crief
as best they could. The old prince refused to have any
hope: he decided that Prince Andrdy was killed, and,
although he sent an official to Austria to find a trace of
his son, he ordered a monument to be made in Moscow,
intending to place it in his garden, and told everybody
that his son had been killed. He tried to continue his
former mode of life, but his strength failed him: he
walked less, ate less, slept less, and became weaker from
day to day. Princess Marya hoped. She prayed for her
brother as for one living, and waited for his return at any
minute.

VIII.

MA bonne amie," the little princess said, after break-
fast on the morning of the 19th of March, and her down-
covered lip rose as usual; but ever since the receipt of
the terrible news there was an expression of sorrow in
every smile and word and even step of all the persons in
the house, and even now the smile of the little princess,
succumbing to the general mood, though she did not know
the cause of it, was such as only to remind one more
forcibly of the common grief.
Ma bonne amie, je crains que le fruschtique comee
dit F6ka the cook) de ce martin ne m'aie pas faith du mal."
What is the matter with you, my dear? You are
pale. Oh, you are so pale," said Princess Mdrya, in fright,
running up to her sister-in-law, with her heavy, though
soft steps.
Your Serenity, had we not better send for Marya
Bogdinovna ?" asked one of the chambermaids who was
present. Marya Bogd6novna was the midwife from the
county-seat, who had been living at Lysyya G6ry for more
than a week.
That is so," Princess Marya interposed, it may be
necessary. I will go for her. Courage, mon ange !"
She kissed Liza and was on the point of leaving the
room.
Oh, no, no!" and on the face of the little princess
there was, in addition to her paleness and physical suffer-
ing, an expression of childish terror before the inevitable
suffering.

52 WAR AND PEACE

Non, c'est l'estomac dites que c'est l'estln',.i:. ilt.s,
Marie, dites--" and the princess began to wv.-I:p 'u,.l
wring her little hands, with a certain show Iot pite :':e.
just as ailing and capricious children do. Tlhe princri
ran out of the room to fetch Mirya BogdAnovna.
Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! Oh 1" she could. h ier bei
sister-in-law calling out behind her.
The midwife, rubbing her small, plump, white handl,
was coming toward her, with a calm and 4i.nifi:aut
expression on her face.
"Marya Bogd6novna! I think it has Il-giu." s-.i
Princess Marya, looking at the midwife with opeu and
frightened eyes.
"Thank God, princess," said Marya Bogdioviin, with-
out accelerating her steps. "You young girlT ou.:.t n:ot
to know anything about it."
"How is it the doctor has not yet arrived fl:tu Mo:-
cow?" asked the princess. At the request oi Li..-. i inl of
Prince Andrdy, an accoucheur had been sent for from
Moscow, and he was expected at any moment.
"Never mind, princess, do not worry," said Marya Bog-
danovna, everything will go well without a doctor."
Five minutes later the princess, sitting in her room,
heard something heavy carried. She looked out and saw
the lackeys carrying into the sleeping-room a leather sofa
which had been standing in the cabinet of Prince Andrey.
There was something solemn and quiet in the faces of the
lackeys.
Princess Marya sat all alone in her room, listening to
the sounds in the house, now and then opening the door
when somebody passed by, and watching what was going
on in the corridor. Several women softly passed to and
fro, looking at the princess and turning away from her.
She did not dare to put any questions to them, closed the
door, returned to her room, and now sat down in her arm-
chair, now picked up her prayer-book, and now again

WAR AND PEACE 53

knelt before the shrine. To her misfortune and surprise
she felt that praying did not calm her agitation. Sud-
denly the door of her room was softly opened, and on the
threshold there appeared her old nurse, Praskdvya Sa-
vishna, her head wrapped in a kerchief; the nurse never
entered her room, having been forbidden to do so by the
prince.
Mirya, my angel, I have come to sit with you," said
the nurse, "and I have brought the princess's marriage
tapers to light them before the images of the saints," she
said, with a sigh.
Oh, how glad I am, nurse!"
"God is merciful, my little dove! "
The nurse lighted the gold-foil-covered tapers before the
shrine and sat down with a stocking at the door. Princess
M6rya took a book and began to read. Only when steps
or voices were heard, the princess cast a frightened and
interrogative glance at the nurse, who replied with a reas-
suring look. The sentiment which Princess Marya was
experiencing in her room reigned in all the corners of the
house. There being a superstition that the fewer people
knew of the suffering of a woman in childbirth, the less
she suffered, all pretended not to know anything about it;
nobody spoke of it, but, in addition to the usual reserve
and respectfulness of good manners which reigned in the
house of the prince, there could be seen in the counte-
nances of all people a common care, a humility of spirit,
and the consciousness of something great and incompre-
hensible which was taking place at that moment.
No laughter was heard in the large maids' room. In
the officiating-room all sat in silence, ready for any call.
The manorial servants burnt torches and candles, and did
not sleep. The old prince walked on his heels in his
cabinet and sent Tikhon to Marya Bogdinovna to find
out how things stood.
"Just say that the prince has commanded you to

WAR AND PEACE

find out how it is, and come back and tell me what h.E
says !"
"Inform the prince that the labour has begun." .i sn
Marya Bogddnovna, with a significant look at thei niet-
senger.
Tikhon went away and reported to the prince.
"Very well,", said the prince, closing the do:.-tr niter
him, and Tikhon no longer heard a single sound in the
cabinet. After awhile Tikhon entered the calbinet, an
though to snuff the candles, but, upon seeing that the
prince was lying on the sofa, Tikhon gazed at him, at lii
disturbed face, after which he silently went up :to the
prince and, kissing his shoulder, again left the ro,.,m,
without snuffing the candles and without saying fu.r what
purpose he had come.
The most solemn of mysteries in the world v.a, till
taking place. The evening passed, and night came. an-d
the sentiment of expectancy and humility of spirit l',efi,rr
the incomprehensible did not subside, but continuoii:. t.,
grow. Nobody was sleeping.

It was one of those March nights when it lo:oks- a,
though winter wanted to regain its power, and nh,>n it
discharges its last storms and snows with desperate firy.
To meet the German doctor from Moscow, who \va% ex-
pected at any moment and for whom post-hor-:,. hali
been sent out on the highway, where it turned rut,:, th.
cross-road, men with lanterns now went on horsel'ia:k, t..'
take him over drifts and puddles.
Princess M6rya had long ago put aside her b::,l:: -h:-
was sitting in silence, directing her beaming ey,:rs spn
the wrinkled face of her nurse, which she knew :doln:'u to
its minutest details: she looked at the strand of gray
hair which peeped out from underneath her kerchief and
at the loose skin bag under her chin.
Nurse Savishna, holding the stocking in her handle, was

WAR AND PEACE

telling for the hundredth time, in a soft voice, herself not
hearing and not understanding her own words, how the
late princess had borne Princess Mdrya at Kishinev, with
a Moldavian peasant woman for a midwife.
"God is gracious and doctors are not needed," she said.
Suddenly a gust of wind jerked at the window-sash
(by the will of the prince one of the double windows in
each room was removed on the appearance of the swallows)
and, tugging at the badly fastened bolt, made the cloth
curtain flutter, and blew into the room a whiff of moisture
and snow, which put out the candle. Princess Marya
shuddered; the nurse put down the stocking and went
up to the window, where she put out her head, trying to
catch the loose sash. The cold wind flapped the edge of
her kerchief and the loose strands of her gray hair.
Princess, somebody is travelling along the avenue !"
she said, holding the sash open. They are with lanterns,
so it must be the doctor -"
0 Lord Thank God !" said Princess Mirya, "I must
go and meet him, for he cannot speak Russian."
Princess Marya threw a shawl over herself and ran
out to meet the men who were coming. As she passed
through the antechamber, she saw through the window
a carriage and lanterns near the entrance. She went out
on the staircase. On the post of the balustrade there
stood a tallow dip, guttering in the wind. Lackey Filipp,
with a frightened face and holding a candle in his hand,
was standing lower down, on the first turn of the stair-
case. Lower still, beyond the turn, could be heard the
soft steps of furred boots and what to Princess MArya
seemed to be a familiar voice said:
"Thank God And father ?"
He has deigned to retire," was heard the voice of
majordomo Demyin, who was already at the bottom of
the staircase.
Then the first voice said something again, Demyan

56 WAR AND PEACE

replied, and the steps in the felt boots were corning
rapidly nearer around the turn, which Princess MAry;a
could not see.
"That is Andr6y !" though Princess MIrya. "' No, that
is impossible! That would be too extraordinary!" she
thought, and just as she was thinking this, the face and
figure of Prince Andr6y, in a fur coat, with its cilU:r all
covered with snow, made its appearance on the turn
where the lackey stood with the candle. Yes, that was
he, but pale and emaciated, and with a changeud, re-
markably soft, and troubled expression on his face. lie
ascended the staircase and embraced his sister.
"Did you not receive my letter?" he asked, anu., with-
out waiting for an answer, which he would n:-t Lhavt
received anyway, for the princess was unable to pra;ik,
he went back and with the accoucheur, who was fotll.wirn
him (he had fallen in with him at the last station), again
rapidly ascended the staircase and once more *-il:braced-i
his sister.
What fate !" he muttered. My dear Mdrya and,
having taken off his fur coat and his boots, he went to
the apartments of the little princess.

THE little princess was lying on pillows, wearing a
white cap. She was just past a labour pain. Her black
hair lay in strands on her inflamed and perspiring cheeks;
her charming little mouth with the ruby, down-covered
lip was open, and she smiled a pleasant smile. Prince
Andrdy entered the room and stopped near her, at the
foot of the sofa on which she was lying. Her sparkling
eyes fell upon him with a childish, frightened, and
agitated glance, without changing their expression.
"I love you all, and have done nobody any harm, why,
then, do I suffer? Help me!" this expression of hers
seemed to say.
She saw her husband, but did not understand the
meaning of his appearance. Prince Andrdy walked
around the sofa and kissed her on her brow.
lMy darling," he said, which expression he had never
before used to her. God is merciful -"
She looked at him interrogatively and with childlike
reproach.
I was waiting for your aid, and there is nothing,
nothing, and you, too!" her eyes seemed to say.
She was not surprised at his arrival; she did not com-
prehend that he had arrived. His arrival had no relation
to her suffering and to its alleviation. The pain began
once more, and Mirya Bogdanovna advised Prince Andrey
to leave the room.
The accoucheur entered the room. Prince Andrey went
out and, meeting Princess M1rya, again went up to her.
57

WAR AND PEACE

They spoke in a whisper, but their conversation died down
every minute. They waited and listened.
Allez, mon ami," said Princess Mdrya.
Prince Andr6y again went to his wife, and sat down in
the adjoining room and waited. A woman came iut ,,f
her room with a frightened face, looking confused at the
sight of Prince Andrey. He covered his face with his
hands and sat thus for several minutes. Pitiable, h.-lp-
less, animal groans were heard in the next room. l'rince
Andrey rose, walked over to the door, and wanted to ,ipen
it. Somebody was holding it on the other side.
"You can't, you can't!" a frightened voice was b:Lrd
on the other side.
He began to walk up and down in the room. Th'
cries died down,- a few more seconds passed. Suddenly
a terrible cry,- not her cry,- she could not cry that
way,- was heard in the adjoining room. Prince Audr''y
ran up to the door; the cry had stopped; there was heard
the whimpering of a babe.
"Why did they take a babe there?" Prince A.drry
thought, in the first second. "A babe? What babe ?
What is it doing there? Or was a babe born there ?"
It was only then that he suddenly comprehended all
the joyful meaning of that cry; tears choked him, nd,
leaning both his elbows on the window-sill, he :-bbed
and wept, as only children weep. The door opened. The
doctor stepped out from that room, in his rolled-up chirt
sleeves and without his coat; he was pale and bhi lw er
jaw quivered. Prince Andrey turned to him, but the
doctor looked at him in confusion and went plat him,
without saying a word. A woman came running .out and
stopped in embarrassment at the door, when she noticed
Prince Andrdy. He entered his wife's room. She l.y
dead in the same position in which he had seer her but
five minutes before, and the same expression, in spite if
the arrested eyes and the paleness of her cheeks, was on

WA.R AND PEACE

that charming, childish little face with the lip that was
covered with black down.
"I love you all, and have done no harm to anybody,-
and see what you have done with me!" said her charm-
ing, pitiable dead face.
In the corner of the room something small and red
grunted and whimpered in the white, trembling hands of
M~rya Bogdanovna.

Two hours later Prince Andrdy softly entered his
father's cabinet. The old man had heard everything.
He was standing at the door, and the moment it opened,
he silently embraced his son with his rough hands, as with
a vise, and burst out weeping like a child.

Three days later mass was held for the little princess,
and, bidding her farewell, Prince Andr6y mounted the
steps of the catafalque. In the coffin lay the same face,
though with eyes shut. "Ah, what have you done with
me ?" it said, and Prince Andr6y felt that something
heavy was lying on his heart, that he was to blame for
something which he could never mend, nor forget. He
could not weep. The old man also ascended the catafalque
and kissed her waxen hand, which lay calmly and high
above the other, and her face said to him: "Ah, what
have you done with me, and why have you done it?"
And the old man gloomily turned away, as he saw her
face.

Five days later, the young Prince Nikolay Andrievich
was christened. The nurse held the swaddling-clothes
with her chin, while the priest with a goose-quill anointed
the boy's wrinkled red palms and soles.
His grandfather, who was the godfather, trembling and
fearing lest he should drop him, carried the babe around
the dented tin font and handed him to his godmother,

WAR AND PEACE

Princess MArya. Prince Andrdy sat in another room
with a sinking heart, lest they should drown the child,
waiting for the end of the sacrament. He joyfully looked
at the child, when the nurse brought him out, and approv-
ingly nodded, when the nurse informed him that the piece
of wax with a lock of child's hair upon it, which had been
thrown into the font, had not gone down, but continued
to swim.

RosT6v's participation in the duel of Dolokhov and
Pierre was quashed by the solicitation of the old count,
and, instead of being degraded, as he had expected to be,
Rost6v was appointed as an adjutant to the governor-
general of Moscow. For this reason he was unable to go
to the country with his family, and remained all summer
in Moscow, attending to his duties. D6lokhov got well,
and Rostdv became very intimate with him during his
convalescence. During his illness, Ddlokhov was with
his mother, who loved him passionately and tenderly.
Old MArya Ivinovna, who loved Rost6v for his friendship
with Fedya, frequently spoke to him about her son.
"Yes, count, he is too noble and pure of heart," she
would say, "for our corrupt world, such as it is nowadays.
Nobody loves virtue, it only acts as a reproach. Tell
me, count, was it just and honest of Beztikhi ? F6dya, in
his magnanimity, loved him, and even now says nothing
bad of him. The jokes they played in St. Petersburg
with the captain of police, they played all together.
Well, Beziikhi did not suffer for it, while Fedya had to
take it all on his shoulders How he suffered for it. It
is true he has been restored to his place, but how could
they help doing it ? I think there were not many such
brave sons of our country down there. Now, this duel!
Have these people any feeling, or honour ? How shame-
less They knew that he was an only son, and yet they
challenged him and shot straight at him It was fortu-
nate God was merciful to us. What was it all for ? Who
61

WAR AND PEACE

in our day has no intrigues? What of it, if ih. is ...,
jealous ? He might have given him to understand bi-f'.re,
but no, he let it go on for a whole year. W.ll. h:-
challenged him to a duel, supposing that FVdy. w\v:uld
not fight, because he owed him some money. Wlat
baseness! What abomination I know, my dear ,..u nt,
that you understand F6dya, and so, believe me, I l.vv- you
with all my heart. There are not many who un.l-rsztarnd
him. He is such an exalted, such a divine soul!"
D6lokhov himself, during his convalescence, spk,,, t.,
Rost6v in a manner which one could hardly have -xpsct'-d
of him.
I am considered a bad man," he would say. I k rIn.iw
it. Well, let them! I do not care to know anybody but
those I love; but whom I love, I love so much that I
will give my life for them, while the others I will strangle,
if they get in my way. I have an adorable, priceless
mother, two or three friends, you among them, and to all
the others I pay attention only in so much as they are
useful or harmful to me. They are nearly all of them
harmful, especially the women. Yes, my friend," he con-
tinued, I have met loving, noble, exalted men; but of
women I have met none but venal creatures, no matter
whether they are countesses or cooks. I have not yet
met that divine purity and devotion, for which I am
looking in women. If I found such a woman, I would
give my life for her. But these! "- he made a con-
temptuous gesture. "Will you believe me, if I at all still
value life, I do so because I hope to meet that divine
being who will regenerate, purify, and elevate me. But
you do not understand this."
On the contrary, I do," said Rostov, who was under
the influence of his new friend.

In the autumn, Rost6v's family returned to Moscow.
In the beginning of winter, Denisov, too, returned, and

WAR AND PEACE

be stopped at the house. of the Ro-t6vs. This first part
(of the miuter of the year 1506, which Nikolay passed in
Mi:SI:j\ w. ai oneir- the happ.i-it a.d] merriest for him and
his whole. fniily. Nikol-yi attra.,te d many young people
to the house of his parents. Vy6ra was twenty years old
and a pretty young lady; S6unya was a sixteen-year-old
girl, with all the charm of a newly budded flower;
Natisha was half a young lady, half a girl, now childishly
funny, and now girlishly seductive.
In the house of the Rost6vs there was just now a
certain atmosphere of love, such as is in houses where
there are very sweet and very young girls. Every young
man who came to the house of the Rost6vs and who
looked at these youthful, impressionable girlish faces
smiling at something (no doubt, at their own happiness),
and at that animated life, who heard that inconsequent,
but kindly, spontaneous, hopeful babble of the young
women, and who heard these inconsequent sounds, and
their singing and music, experienced the same readiness
to love and the same expectancy of happiness, which was
experienced by all the young people in the house of the
Rost6vs.
Among the young men introduced by Rost6v, Dolokhov
was one of the first. He found favour with all in the
house except with Natisha. She almost had a quarrel
with her brother on account of D61okhov. She insisted
that he was a bad man, that in his duel with Beztikhi
Pierre had been right, and D6lokhov wrong, and that he
was disagreeable and unnatural.
"There is nothing for me to understand," Natisha
cried, with perverse obstinacy, "he is a bad man and
devoid of feelings. Now, I love your Denisov, though
he is a carouser and such things, still, I love him, conse-
quently I understand him. I do not know how to tell it
to you, only everything is calculated in him, and that I
do not'like. Denisov "

WAR AND PEACE

"Well, Denisov is another matter," replied NikolAy,
giving her to understand that in comparison with Denisov
even D6lokhov was nothing. "You must understand
what a soul this D6lokhov has! You must see him with
his mother what a heart he has 1 "
"I know nothing about that, but I do not feel at ease
in his presence. And do you know that he is in love
with Sdnya?"
"How foolish "
"I am convinced of it, and you will see."
Natisha's prediction came true. D6lokhov, who was
not fond of women's society, came frequently to the house,
and the question for whose sake he came was soon solved,
though nobody spoke of it. He came to see S6nya. And
S6nya, although no one would have dared to say it, knew
it and blushed like a lobster every time D6lokhov made
his appearance.
D61okhov frequently dined at the Rost6vs, never missed
a spectacle which they attended, and went to the ado-
lescent balls at Iohel's, to which the Rost6vs always went.
He showed exceptional attention to S6nya and looked at
her with such eyes that, not only she was unable to meet
his glance without a blush, but even the old countess and
NatAsha blushed whenever they noticed it.
It was evident that this strong and strange man was
under the irresistible influence produced on him by this
swarthy, graceful girl who was in love with another.
Rost6v observed that something new was going on
between D6lokhov and S6nya; but he did not render
himself any account of what these relations really were.
Those girls are all in love with somebody," he thought
of Sonya and Natasha. He no longer felt so much at ease
with S6nya and Dolokhov, and remained at home less
often.
In the fall of 1806 all began to speak again about a
war with Napoleon, and with greater ardour than in the

WAR AND PEACE E5

previous year. There was to be a levy of ten recruits for
every thi:us :rid, al.l of nine al.lli tonal men fo:r enach thou-
sauril for the militia. BonDnAparte wi )[peinly .ursed
everywhere, :ad in M:,.iow the impending war was ani
.ail-abkQorbing i uhject -f c.:,uversati:on. For tihe RFst6v
family the whole interest of these preparations lor the
war ,.onsilt-d in the fat th-Lt Nil:olyi would under no
conditions consent to stay in Moscow, and was only wait-
ing for the end of Denisov's furlough in order to leave
with him for the regiment after the holidays. The im-
pending departure did not keep him from amusing himself:
it only encouraged him to make as merry as possible.
The greater part of his time he passed away from the
house, at dinners, evening parties, and balls.

ON the third day of Christmas, Rost6v dined at home,
which at that time was rare with him. It was a kind of
an official farewell dinner, since he and Denisov were to
leave for the army after Epiphany. There were about
twenty people at the dinner, among them D6lokhov and
Denisov.
Never before had the atmosphere of love been felt so
powerfully in the house of the Rost6vs as during these
holidays. Seize the minutes of happiness, compel others
to love you, and yourself fall in love! This alone is real
in this world, everything else is nonsense. This is our
only occupation here below," this atmosphere seemed to
say.
Nikolay, who, as always, had worn out two spans of
horses without having called in all the places where he
ought to have been and where he had been invited, returned
home immediately before dinner. The moment he entered,
he noticed and felt the tension in the atmosphere of love
in the house, and he also became aware of a strange em-
barrassment which existed between certain members of
that company. Most agitated were S6nya, D6lokhov, the
old countess, and, to a certain degree, Natasha. Nikolay
saw that something must have happened between S6nya
and D6lokhov before dinner, and, with a refinement which
was characteristic of him, he was particularly gentle and
careful in his treatment of both of them during the
dinner.
On the same evening there was to be one of those balls
66

WAR AND PEACE

at Iohel', (the lancing-master's), which h ,: gaveon holidays
f,.ii all o:,f II, pupil.U
** Nik'.'l w.Iil .:,u g:, to lohI .l' ? )Do g !" Natdsha
said to him. "He particularly asked you to come, and
Vasili Dmitrich (Denisov) is going to be there."
Where would I not go at the command of the count-
ess ?" said Denisov, who in the house of the Rost6vs had
jocularly assumed the role of NatAsha's knight. "I will
even dance the pas de chdle."
If I have time! I have promised to be at the Ar-
khArovs, they give an evening entertainment," said
Nikolay. "And you ?" he turned to Dl6okhov. The
moment he put the question, he noticed he ought not to
have asked him.
Yes, perhaps -" D6lokhov replied, coldly and angrily,
looking at S6nya and glancing with a frown at Nikoliy,
with the expression with which at the club dinner he had
looked at Pierre.
Something has happened," thought Nikolay. He was
strengthened in his belief when D6lokhov left soon after
dinner. He called out Nat6sha, and asked her what the
matter was.
I have been looking for you," said Nat6sha, running
out to him. I told you all the time, but you would not
believe me," she said, triumphantly. "He has proposed to
S6nya."
However little Nikoliy was at that time interested in
S6nya, something gave way in him when he heard this.
D6lokhov was a decent, and in some ways a brilliant,
match for dowerless and orphaned S6nya. From the
point of view of the old countess and of the world he
ought not to be refused. Consequently, the first impres-
sion which Nikolay received upon hearing this was that of
anger at S6nya. He was getting ready to say: That is
nice, of course I We must forget our childish vows and
accept the proposition," but before he had said this -

WAR AND PEACE

Just think of it! She has refused him, has refused
him pointblank!" said NatAsha. "She told him that
she loved another," she added, after a moment's silence.
"My S6nya could not have acted otherwise !" thought
Nikolay.
No matter how much mamma begged her, she refused,
and I know that she will not change anything she makes
up her mind to -"
And mamma begged her!" NikolLy said, reproach-
fully.
Yes," said Natasha. Do you know, Nikolay, don't
get angry, I am sure you will not marry her. I know,
God knows how, but I know for sure that you will not
marry her."
You know nothing about that," said Nikolay. "But I
must speak with her. What a charming girl S6nya is!"
he added, with a smile.
She is so charming! I will send her to you," and
kissing her brother, Natasha ran away.
A minute later S6nya entered, frightened and confused,
as though guilty of something. Nikol6y went up to her
and kissed her hand. This was the first time since his
arrival that they had spoken without witnesses and of
their love.
Sophie," he said, at first timidly, and then ever bolder
and bolder, if you wish to refuse not only a brilliant and
advantageous match but he is a fine and noble man -
he is my friend "
S6nya interrupted him.
I have already refused him," she said, hurriedly.
If you refuse him on my account, then I am afraid
that -"
S6nya again interrupted him. She looked at him with
a frightened and imploring glance.
"Nicolas, don't tell me that," she said.
"No, I must. Maybe it is a sufisance on my part, but

WAR AND PEACE 69

it is better for me to say it. If you refuse for my sake, I
must tell you the whole truth. I love you, I think, better
than anybody "
"That is enough for me," S6nya said, blushing.
"But I have been a thousand times in love and will be
so again, although I have no such feeling of friendship, con-
fidence, and love for any one but you. Besides, I am young.
Mamma does not want it. In short, I promise nothing.
I ask you to think of Ddlokhov's proposal," he said, with
difficulty pronouncing the name of his friend.
Don't say that to me! I do not want anything. I
love you as a brother and will always love you and want
nothing else."
"You are an angel. I am not worthy of you, and I am
afraid of being false to you."
Nikoliy again kissed her hand.

IOHEL'S balls were the merriest in Moscow. So the
mothers said, watching their adolescents dance the newly
learned steps; so said the adolescents themselves, dancing
to exhaustion; so said the young men and women who
came to these balls with the intention of coming down to
the level of the younger people and who found in this
their greatest pleasure. During the year two marriages
had been due to these balls. The two pretty Countesses
Gorchak6v had found their matches, whom they married,
and so increased the fame of these balls. The special
feature of these balls was the absence of a host or host-
ess: there was only good-natured Iohel, flying about like
fluff, scuffing according to the rules of his art, and receiv-
ing the tickets for the lessons from his guests; another
feature was this, that only those attended who wanted to
dance and to amuse themselves, as do thirteen or fourteen-
year-old girls who for the first time put on long dresses.
All, with rare exceptions, were or seemed to be pretty:
they all smiled with such transport, and their eyes
sparkled so. Sometimes the best pupils, among whom
Nat6sha, remarkable for her grace, was the leading one,
danced the pas de chale; but at this, the last ball, they
danced only the dcossaise, the English, and the mazurka,
which was just becoming fashionable. The hall was rented
by lohel in Bezdkhi's house, and all agreed that the ball
was a great success. There were many pretty girls present,
:and the Rost6v young ladies were among the prettiest.
'They were both particularly happy and merry. On that
70

WAR AND PEACE

evening, S6nya, proud of D6lokhov's proposal, of her
refusal, and of her explanation with Nikolay, had been
whirling about at home, making it hard for her maid to
finish combing her braid, and now she was transparent
with ebullient joy.
Nat6sha, not less proud of being out for the first time
in a long dress, at a real ball, was happier still. Both
wore white muslin dresses with rose-coloured ribbons.
Nat6sha was in love the moment she entered the ball.
She was not in love with any one in particular, but with
all in general. She was in love with him upon whom she
happened to be looking at any given moment.
"Oh, how nice it is!" she kept saying as she ran up to
S6nya.
Nikoldy and Denisov walked from one room to another,
graciously and condescendingly surveying the dancers.
How sweet she is! She will be a beauty," said
Denisov.
Who ?"
"Countess Natasha," replied Denisov. "And how she
dances! What grace!" he again said, after a moment's
silence.
"About whom are you speaking?"
"About your sister," Denisov exclaimed, angrily.
Rost6v smiled.
Mon cher comte, vous etes Pun de mes meilleurs dcoliers,
il faut que vous dansiez," said small lohel, walking over
to Nikoly. Voyez combien de jolies demoiselles."
He turned with the same request to Denisov, also his
former pupil.
Non, mon cher, je ferai tapisserie," said Denisov.
" Do you not remember how badly I profited by your
lessons ?"
Not at all !" Iohel hastened to say, in order to console
him. You were only inattentive; but you had ability,
yes, you had it."

72 WAR AND PEACE

Again the music struck up, playing a mazurka. Niko-
Mdy could not refuse lohel, and invited S6nya. Denisov
sat down by the side of the old ladies and, leaning on his
sabre and marking time with it, was amusing the old
ladies with some merry tale, while watching the youthful
dancers. Iohel formed the first couple with Natisha, who
was his pride and best pupil. Softly and gracefully mov-
ing his little feet in the dancing shoes, Iohel was the first
to fly across the hall with timid Nat6sha, who, however,
carefully executed her steps. Denisov did not take his
eyes off her and kept beating time with his sabre with
an expression which clearly said that he did not dance
because he did not wish to, and not because he did not
know how. In the middle of the figure he called up
Rost6v who was passing near him.
"It is not at all that," he said. "Do you call this a
Polish mazurka ? But she dances excellently."
Knowing that Denisov had been famous even in Poland
for his masterly dancing of the mazurka, Nikoliy ran up
to Natasha.
"Go and choose Denisov! He is a fine dancer !" he
said.
When it was again Natasha's turn, she rose and, rap-
idly moving her little feet in her ribboned shoes, timidly
ran all alone across the hall to the corner where Denisov
was sitting. She saw that all were looking at her and
waiting to see what would happen. Nikolhy saw that
Denisov and Natasha were smiling and disputing some-
thing, and that Denisov was refusing, with a joyful smile.
He ran up to them.
Please, Vasili Dmitrich," Natisha was saying, come,
let us dance!"
"Countess, excuse me," said Denisov.
"Come now, Vasya!" said NikolMy.
"You are trying to persuade me like V6sya the cat,"
Denisov said, jestingly.

WAR AND PEACE

I will sing for you the whole evening," said Natasha.
"A fairy can do everything she pleases with me said
Denisov, unbuckling his sabre. He walked out from
behind the chairs, firmly clasped his lady's hand, raised
his head, and put forward his foot, waiting for the beat.
It was only on horseback and at a dance that one did
not notice Denisov's low stature, and he appeared that
dashing fellow whom he felt himself to be.
When the proper beat was struck he looked sidewise
at his lady, with a triumphant and jocular glance, sud-
denly stamped the floor with one foot, and, like a ball,
rebounded from the floor and flew forward in a circle,
drawing his lady along with him. He softly flew on one
foot across half of the hall and did not seem to see the
chairs in front of him, toward which he was tending; but
suddenly, clattering his spurs and spreading his feet, he
stopped on his heels, remained about a second in this atti-
tude, with a clanking of his spurs struck his feet against
each other, standing in the same spot, rapidly whirled
around and, striking his right foot with his left, again flew
in a circle. Natasha divined what he intended to do, and,
herself not knowing how, followed him and entirely
abandoned herself to him. Now he pirouetted with her,
holding her right hand, and now her left; now he dropped
down on a knee and swung all around her, and again
leaped up and rushed headlong with such rapidity as
though he intended to run through all the rooms without
drawing breath; but suddenly he stopped and again made
a new evolution on his knee. When he, briskly whirl-
ing his lady around in front of her seat, clattered with
his spurs and bowed to her, Natasha forgot to make her
bow of acknowledgment. She looked at him in perplex-
ity and smiled, as though she did not recognize him.
What is this ?" she muttered.
Although lohel did not recognize this mazurka as a
regular dance, all were delighted with Denisov's mastery

74 WAR AND PEACE

and constantly chose him to dance with, while the old
men began to converse about Poland and the good old
times. Denisov, heated by the mazurka and wiping off
his perspiration with his handkerchief, sat down by Na-
tAsha's side and did not leave her all the evening.

XIII.

FoR two days after this Rost6v did not meet D6lokhov
at his own house, nor did he find him at home; on the
third he received a note.
"Since I do not intend to call again at your house, for
reasons which you know, and since I am about to depart
for the army, I shall give this evening a farewell party to
my friends. Come to the English Hotel"
Returning from the theatre, where he had been with his
family and with Denisov, at ten o'clock, he went to the
English Hotel. He was immediately taken to the best
apartment, which for that night was occupied by D6lo-
khov. On the table lay money, in gold and in assig-
nats, and D6lokhov kept bank. Nikol6y had not seen
him since his proposal and S6nya's refusal, and he was a
little embarrassed at the thought of meeting him. Ddlo-
khov's clear and cold glance met Rost6v at the door, as
though he had long been waiting for him.
"We have not seen each other for quite awhile,"
he said. "Thank you for having come. Let me finish
keeping bank, and then Ilyushka will come with his
choir."
I have called at your house," Rostdv said, blush-
ing.
Dolokhov made no reply.
"You may punt," he said.
Rost6v happened just then to recall the strange conver-
sation which he once had with Dl6okhov. Only fools
play for luck," D6lokhov then said.
75

WAR AND PEACE

Are you afraid to play with me ?" Ddlokhov now
said, smiling, as though guessing Rost6v's thought.
In this smile of his Rost6v saw that peculiar mood
which he had displayed at the dinner in the club and, in
general, on such occasions when, tiring of the monoto-
nousness of every-day life, he felt the necessity of issuing
from it by some strange, more especially by some cruel,
act.
Rost6v was ill at ease; he looked in vain in his mind
for some pleasantry with which to reply to D6lokhov's
words. But, before he had a chance to do so, D6lokhov,
looking straight into Rost6v's face, said to him slowly
and distinctly, so that all could hear him:
Do you remember how we once spoke about gam-
bling? I said that a man was a fool to play for luck;
one must be sure in playing, but still, I will try."
Does he want to try for luck, or for sure ?" thought
Rostdv.
"Yes, you had better not play!" he said, and, flinging
down a torn pack of cards, he added: "Bank, gentle-
men "
D61okhov moved up the money and was getting ready
to deal the cards. Rost6v sat down near him and at first
did not play. Dolokhov kept looking at him.
S"Why do you not play?" said D6lokhov.
Strange to say, NikolAy felt the necessity of taking a
card, putting a small stake upon it, and of beginning to
play.
"I have no money with me," said Rostov.
"I will trust you!"
Rost6v put five roubles on the card and lost; he put
five more, and lost again. D6lokhov killed, that is, won,
ten cards in succession from Rostdv.
Gentlemen," he said, having dealt the cards for some
time, please put the money on your cards, or else I shall
get mixed up in the accounts."

WA. AND PEACE

One of the players said that he hoped he could be
trusted.
"Yes, you may be trusted, but I am afraid of getting
mixed up. I ask you to place money on your cards," re-
plied D6lokhov. "Don't feel embarrassed, for we shall
square accounts later," he added to Rost6v.
The game went on. A lackey kept pouring out cham-
pagne.
All of Rost6v's cards were beaten, and eight hundred
roubles were written up against him. He had just writ-
ten eight hundred roubles on a card, but, as the cham-
pagne was brought around, he changed his mind and wrote
down a more moderate stake of twenty roubles.
Leave it," said Dolokhov, although he did not seem
to be looking at Rost6v, "you will win back quicker.
Others win of me, but you get beat. Or are you afraid
of me?" he repeated.
Rost6v obeyed, left the eight hundred written down on
the card and picked up a seven of hearts from the ground
and, tearing off a corner, placed it on the table. He put
down the seven of hearts, with a broken piece of chalk
wrote the figure eight hundred upon it in round, straight
ciphers, drank a glass of warm champagne which had
been handed to him, smiled at D6lokhov's words, and,
with sinking heart waiting for the seven, began to watch
the hands of D6lokhov, who was holding the cards.
The gain or loss of this seven of hearts meant a great
deal for Rost6v. The previous Sunday Count IlyA An-
dr6evich had given his son two thousand roubles, and he,
who had never liked to speak of money matters, told his
son that this was the last money until May, and that,
therefore, he asked him to be careful with it. Nikol6y
had told him that it was more than enough, and that he
gave him his word of honour he would not take any more
from him until spring. Now only twelve hundred roubles
of that money were left. Consequently, the seven of

78 WAR AND PEACE

hearts meant not only the loss of sixteen hundred roubles,
but also the necessity of breaking his given w:ord :f'
honour.
He was looking with a sinking heart at D'Al:;kho:'v's
hands and thinking: "Come now, let me have that card
at once, and I will take my cap and go home to -ulp with
Denisov, Nattsha, and Sdnya, and never again will tak,;: a
card into my hands."
Just then his domestic life, his jokes with 'rtya, his
conversations with S6nya, his duets with Natasha, the
piquet with his father, and even the quiet bed in the house
on Povdrskaya Street, appeared before him with such
force, such clearness, and such allurement, as though it all
were a long past, lost, and unappreciated happiness. He
could not admit that a stupid chance, which would make
the seven fall on the right rather than on the left, could
deprive him of all this newly conceived and illuminated
happiness and plunge him into the abyss of an unfamiliar
and indefinite misfortune. It could not be, and yet he
with a sinking heart watched D6lokhov's hands. These
broad-boned, reddish hands, with the hair peeping out
underneath his shirt, placed the pack of cards down and
took up a glass of wine, which was offered him, and his
pipe.
So you are not afraid to play with me?" repeated
D6lokhov, and, as though to tell a merry story, he put
down his cards, leaned back in his chair, and slowly began
to speak, smiling all the time:
"Yes, gentlemen, I have been told that there is a
rumour abroad in Moscow that I am a cheat at cards,
and so I advise you to be careful with me."
"Go on dealing !" said Rostdv.
"Oh, the Moscow gossips!" said dlokhov, smiling
and taking up his cards.
"Oh, oh!" Rost6v almost shouted, taking hold of his
hair with both his hands. The seven which he needed

WAR AND PEACE 79

was already lyiug facex upward, the hirst card in the pack.
He had I.:st Inu.re tll he wa.s able t:. F'ay.
DI.n't get sL.' dc-po:ondent," said Dl'.lkhov, looking
.askahce at Roit6v, and coi'tiuuing to deal his cards.

XIV.

AN hour and a half later the majority of the gamesters
were considering their game but lightly. The whole at-
tention was centred on Rostov. Instead of sixteen hun-
dred roubles, there was marked up against him a long
column of figures, which he had made out to be some-
where in the tens of thousands, but which, he had a dim
idea, must be now somewhere in the neighbourhood of
fifteen thousand. In reality, the sum he owed had passed
twenty thousand.
D6lokhov no longer was telling stories; he followed
every motion of Rost6v's hands, and then cast a cursory
glance at his account with Rost6v. He decided to con-
tinue the game until the abcount reached the sum of
forty-three thousand roubles. He chose this figure because
forty-three was the sum of his and S6nya's joint ages.
Rost6v, bending his head on both his arms, was sitting at
the table, which was marked up with chalk, drenched
with wine, and covered with cards. One tormenting im-
pression did not leave him: these broad-boned, reddish
hands, with their hair peeping out underneath the shirt,
these hands which he loved and hated, were holding him
in their power.
Six hundred roubles, an ace, a corner, a nine, it is
impossible to win back 1 How cheerful it would have
been at home Valet on the p impossible! -
Why does he do it with me? Rost6v thought.
Now and then he punted on a big card; but D6lokhov
refused to beat him, and himself indicated the stakes.
80

WAR AND PEACE

Nikolay submitted to him. He now prayed to God as he
had prayed on the bridge at Amstetten; now he tried to
convince himself that the first card which he picked up
from a mass of bent cards under the table would save
him; now he figured out how many cords there were on
his jacket and tried to stake the whole loss on a card
representing as many points; now he looked for succour
from the other players; and now he gazed at D6lokhov's
cold face, trying to penetrate that which was beneath it.
He knows what this loss means to me. He certainly
does not want my destruction? He is my friend. I
have loved him so much-- But he is not to blame; he
cannot help having such unusual luck. And I am not
to blame, either," he said to himself. I have done no
wrong. Have I killed or offended any one, or done one
any harm ? Whence this terrible misfortune? When
did it begin? It is but a short time ago I came up to
this table with the wish of winning one hundred roubles
with which to buy mamma a small case for her name-
day, and of going immediately home. I was so happy,
so free, and so cheerful! When did it end, and when
did that new and terrible condition begin ? What deter-
mined this change ? I have been sitting all the time at
this table, choosing and putting down cards, and looking
at these broad-boned, agile hands When did it happen,
and what did happen? I am well and strong, and the
same I always was, and sitting in the same place as
before. No, it cannot be! No doubt it will all end in
nothing."
He was red in his face and in a perspiration, although
it was not warm in the room. His face was terrible and
pitiful, especially on account of his vain endeavour to
appear calm.
The sum reached the fatal number of forty-three thou-
sand. Rostov prepared a card which was to be a corner
on three thousand roubles, which he just won, when

WAR AND PEACE

Ddlokhov slapped the pack of cards and put it aside. He
took up the chalk and, writing in a strong, legible hand,
began to add up the column of Rost6v's account.
"To supper! It is time to eat! Here are the
gipsies !"
Indeed some swarthy men and women, talking in their
gipsy brogue, had just come in from the outside. Nikoldy
knew that all was ended; but he said, in an indifferent
voice :
Well, will you not play a little more ? I have pre-
pared an excellent little card."
He acted as though the pleasure of playing interested
him more than anything else.
All is ended, and I am lost!" he thought. All
that is left for me to do is to send a bullet through my
brain," and at the same time he said, in a merry voice:
Come, one more card."
"All right," replied D6lokhov, having finished the
addition, all right! It goes at twenty-one roubles," he
said, pointing to the figure twenty-one, by which amount
his sum differed from forty-three thousand. He picked
up the pack of cards and began to deal.
Rost6v carefully unbent the corner and instead of six
thousand wrote down twenty-one.
It makes no difference to me," he said. "All I am
interested to know is whether you will beat my ten spot,
or whether you will give it to me."
Ddlokhov began to deal with a serious look. Oh, how
Rost6v at that moment despised those reddish hands with
the short fingers and with the hair which peeped out
beneath the shirt, which held him in their power. The
ten spot fell for him.
You owe me forty-three thousand, count," said Dolo-
khov. He stretched himself and rose from the table.
" One gets tired sitting down so long," he added.
Yes, I am tired myself," said Rost6v.

WAR AND PEACE

As though to remind him that it was not proper to
jest, Ddlokhov interrupted him, by saying:
Count, when may I get the money ?"
Rost6v blushed and called D6lokhov out to the adjoin-
ing room.
I cannot pay the whole sum at once. Will you take
a note ?" said Rost6v.
"Listen, Rost6v," said D6lokhov, with a bland smile
and looking straight into Rost6v's eyes, you know the
proverb, Lucky in love, unlucky in cards.' Your cousin
is in love with you, I know it."
"Oh, it is terrible to feel oneself in the power of this
man," thought Rost6v. Rost6v knew what a shock it
would be to his parents when he should tell them of his
loss; he knew what happiness it would be to get rid of
all this; he knew that Ddlokhov was aware of the fact
that he could free him of all this shame and sorrow,
and that he was only playing with him as a cat plays
with a mouse.
"Your cousin -" D6lokhov began once more, but
Nikol6y interrupted him.
"My cousin has nothing to do with us, and there is no
reason for mentioning her he shouted, in rage.
"So when can I get it?" asked D6lokhov.
"To-morrow," said Rost6v, leaving the room.

XV.

IT was not difficult to say To-morrow" and to pre-
serve appearances; but it was terrible to come home all
alone to see his sisters, his brother, and his parents, and
to make a confession and ask for money to which he had
no right after the word of honour which he had given.
His people were not yet asleep. The young Rost6vs
had had their supper, after their return from the theatre,
and were now sitting at the clavichord. The moment
NikolAy entered the parlour, he was surrounded by that
poetical atmosphere of love, which had been reigning in
their house during that winter, and which now, after
Ddlokhov's proposal and lohel's ball, seemed to have
become denser, like the air before a storm, about S6nya
and Natasha. S6nya and Natisha, dressed in the blue
dresses which they had worn in the theatre, beautiful and
conscious of their beauty, and happy, stood, smiling, at the
clavichord. Vy6ra was playing chess with Shinshin in
the drawing-room. The old countess, waiting for the
arrival of her husband and her son, was laying a solitaire
with the aid of an old gentlewoman who was living in
her house. Denisov, with sparkling eyes and dishevelled
hair, was.sitting at the clavichord. His feet were thrown
back, and, striking the keys with his short fingers, he took
chords and, rolling his eyes, sang, in his small, hoarse, but
correct voice, the poem, The Fairy," which he had com-
posed, trying to pick out the music for it.
Fairy, tell me, pray, what power draws me
To the strings which I abandoned long ago I
In my heart what sacred fire awes me,
And what transports neathh thy fingers flow!"
84

WAP AND PEACE

He sang in an impassioned voice, flashing his black
agate eyes upon frightened and happy Natisha.
"Beautiful! Excellent!" cried Natisha. "Another
verse!" she said, not noticing NikolAy's arrival.
"Everything is as of old with them," thought Nikoldy,
looking into the drawing-room, where he saw Vyyra and
his mother with the old lady.
"Ah, here is Nikolay !" Natasha ran up toward him.
"Is papa at home ?" he asked.
"How glad I am that you have arrived!" Natisha
said, without answering his question. "We are having
such a nice time. Vasili Dmitrich, you know, has
remained over a day for my sake."
"No, papa has not yet arrived," said S6nya.
"Nikolay, come here, my dear!" the countess in the
drawing-room called out.
Nikolay went up to his mother, kissed her hand, and,
silently seating himself at the table, began to watch her
hands which were laying the solitaire. In the parlour
could be heard laughter and merry voices, begging Na-
tasha to do something.
"All right, all right," cried Denisov, you can't refuse
now: it is your turn to play the barcarolle, and I beg
you to do so."
The countess looked around at her taciturn son.
"What is the matter with you ?" she asked Nikolay.
"Oh, nothing," he said, as though he were annoyed by
this monotonous question. Will papa be back soon ?"
"I think so."
"They are still happy. They do not know anything!
Where shall I go to ?" thought Nikolay, walking into the
parlour, where stood the clavichord.
S6nya was sitting at the clavichord and playing the
prelude to that barcarolle of which Denisov was so fond.
Natasha was getting ready to sing. Denisov was look-
ing at her with eyes of transport.

86 WAR AND PEACE

Nikolay began to pace up and down in the parlour.
What nonsense to make her sing! She caunni.'t -ing !
And where is the fun here?" thought Nikol y.
S6nya took the first chord of the prelude.
O Lord, I am lost! I am a disgraced iuin All that
there is left for me to do is to send a ball thr.:ugli u-
head, and not to sing," he thought. "I shill g .1 ,1vway!
But whither ? It makes no difference,-- let thlit- in- !"
Nikoldy continued to walk up and down in the r.im,
looking gloomily at Denisov and at the girls, aud a.viding
their glances.
"Nikol6y, what is the matter with 3you?" asked
S6nya's glance, which was directed toward hiw. She
saw at once that something had happened t.'. him.
Nikolay turned away from her. Natlhia, with lher
usual sensitiveness, had almost immediately U:notied the
condition of her brother. She had observed it, 1.b t -h.
was so happy at that moment, so far removed fr-iu grief.
and sorrow, and reproaches, that she purp:.r.-ly d,'.ceivcd
herself, as young people often do.
"I am too happy now to spoil my happinesso by yiip,'a-
thizing with somebody else's sorrow," she felt. and .he-
said to herself: "No, I must be mistaken: lie i, uno d,'oubt.,
as happy as I am."
"Come now, S6nya," she said, steppin:, towrd the'
centre of the parlour, where, in her opinion, the rez-.uin; ce
was best. Raising her head and allowing hter lit'fl-z.
arms to droop, as dancers do, Natasha with an energ,.-ti
motion changed the position of her feet from the. heels to
the toes, made a few steps on tiptoe, and stu.pped.
"That is what I am!" she seemed to say, ui re-pu.itn-e
to Denisov's ecstatic glance which followed her.
"What is she so happy about ?" thought Nik :l- y, as
he glanced at his sister. "How can she help feelling, dull
and ashamed!"
Natasha sang her first note; her throat exprndt.i., her

WAR AND PEACE

chest straightened up, her eyes assumed a serious expres-
sion. She was not thinking of anybody or of anything
at that moment, and from her mouth, which was formed
for a smile, there issued sounds, those sounds which any-
body may produce in the same intervals of time, but
which leave us cold a thousand times, and make us
shudder and weep the one thousand and first time.
During that winter NatAsha for the first time began
to sing in earnest, more especially because Denisov was
in ecstasy over her singing. She now no longer sang in
childish fashion : there was no longer that comical preci-
sion; but still she did not yet sing well, as all good
judges of singing said. "Her voice is not yet trained;
but it is beautiful and ought to be trained," all said.
These remarks were always made long after she had
stopped singing. But so long as that untrained voice
with its irregular respiration and forced transitions lasted,
even the judges said nothing and only listened to that
untrained voice, and wanted to hear it again. In her
voice there was that virgin purity, that unconsciousness
of her strength, and that untrained velvetiness which so
united with the imperfections of her art of singing that
it seemed impossible to change anything in it without
spoiling it.
"What is it?" thought Nikolay, hearing her voice and
opening his eyes wide. What has happened to her ?
How she sings to-night!" he thought. Suddenly his
whole world centred in the expectation of the next note,
the next phrase, and everything in the world was divided
into three beats: Oh mio erudele affetto one, two,
three one, two, three one Oh mio crudele affetto
- one, two, three one. Oh, our stupid life!" thought
Nikoldy. "All this, misfortune, and money, and D6lokhov,
and anger, and honour, all this is nonsense, but here
is the real Well, Natasha, my dear, my little dove!
- How will she take this si ? Well done! Thank